Agricultural Extension Services - JSS2 Agricultural science Past Questions and Answers - page 2
What is the primary focus of extension services in promoting sustainable agriculture?
Encouraging the use of harmful chemicals
Reducing crop yields
Promoting practices that minimise environmental impact
Ignoring environmental concerns
Which term describes the process of empowering farmers with the necessary resources and support?
Agricultural disempowerment
Rural marginalisation
Rural empowerment
Agricultural isolation
What role does extension play in building the capacity of rural communities?
It encourages individualism
It fosters community collaboration
It discourages collective problem-solving
It promotes dependency on external assistance
How do extension services contribute to rural development?
By discouraging collaboration among farmers
By limiting access to information
By promoting collective problem-solving
By encouraging dependency on external assistance
What is the primary objective of agricultural extension with regard to technology transfer?
To prevent the adoption of new technologies
To facilitate the transfer of new technologies to farmers
To limit farmers' access to information
To discourage innovation in farming practices
Discuss the historical development of agricultural extension services.
The historical development of agricultural extension services dates back to the late 19th century, evolving from agricultural societies to more participatory and farmer-centred models. Key factors, such as advancements in agricultural science, changing socioeconomic dynamics, and the recognition of the importance of empowering farmers, have influenced its growth and significance in agriculture.
Examine the challenges faced by agricultural extension services.
Agricultural extension services encounter challenges like limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and communication barriers. Addressing these obstacles involves capacity building for extension workers, leveraging technology for remote outreach, strengthening institutional support, and fostering partnerships with local organisations to ensure tailored solutions and effective service delivery.
Discuss the impact of agricultural extension on sustainable farming practices.
Agricultural extension plays a vital role in promoting sustainable farming practices by providing farmers with knowledge and resources to adopt environmentally friendly techniques. Through extension services, farmers learn about practices such as conservation agriculture and integrated pest management, which contribute to soil health, biodiversity conservation, and reduced reliance on chemical inputs.
Examine the role of technology in modern agricultural extension services.
Technology has revolutionised modern agricultural extension services, offering innovative tools and platforms for knowledge dissemination and communication. Integration of mobile apps, online platforms, and multimedia resources enables extension workers to reach a wider audience, provide real-time advice, and facilitate interactive learning, supporting evidence-based decision-making and customised solutions.
Discuss the collaborative nature of agricultural extension.
Collaboration among extension services, research institutions, and farmers is essential for ensuring the relevance and effectiveness of agricultural extension programs. Partnerships enable co-creation of knowledge, exchange of best practices, and identification of locally appropriate solutions, leveraging respective expertise and resources to address complex agricultural challenges, promote innovation, and empower farming communities.