Group led extension

Group led extension

• 1.
  Dr R PSingh Associate Director Extension Education Group Led Extension : An Effective Means For Promotion Of INM, IPM And IDM Technologies
• 2.
  A way ofdisseminating information and technologies on Agricultural and Rural development through group of farmers It aims to develop local skills and empower local people to solve their own problems What is Group Led Extension?
• 3.
  Reasons for GroupLed ExtensionReasons for Group Led Extension EfficiencyEfficiency EffectivenessEffectiveness Collective actionCollective action EquityEquity
• 4.
  Personalized or Groupled extension ?Personalized or Group led extension ?  Does the problem……….Does the problem………. Require many steps to solveRequire many steps to solve Have many partsHave many parts Require much technical informationRequire much technical information Need wide range of ideasNeed wide range of ideas Require much timeRequire much time Involve many solutionsInvolve many solutions Involve considerable difficultiesInvolve considerable difficulties Take into account the attitudes ofTake into account the attitudes of individual / groupindividual / group Carry a risk factorCarry a risk factor  If YES… Go for Group led extensionIf YES… Go for Group led extension
• 5.
  Why the PeopleJoin a group?Why the People Join a group? Group synergy Support and Commitment Interpersonal needs Distributes the responsibility for a given task Effective communication Regulate the interactions Group work provides for trustful environment
• 6.
  Why Farmers Groups/ Organizations ?Why Farmers Groups / Organizations ?  Build interactions between extension andBuild interactions between extension and farming communityfarming community  Extension from farmer to farmer is possibleExtension from farmer to farmer is possible  Enable farmers to organize themselves forEnable farmers to organize themselves for action or to share resourcesaction or to share resources  Analyze farmers problems with extensionAnalyze farmers problems with extension supportsupport  More services can be made available toMore services can be made available to farmers through a single pointfarmers through a single point  Provide more effective learningProvide more effective learning environmentenvironment
• 7.
  Benefits of FarmergroupsBenefits of Farmer groups Share the farm implements, machinery, plantingShare the farm implements, machinery, planting material and other resourcesmaterial and other resources Organize different servicesOrganize different services Share ideas, experiences and problemsShare ideas, experiences and problems Make extension services more client drivenMake extension services more client driven Strengthen bargaining power with tradersStrengthen bargaining power with traders Provide a forum for extension agents to introduceProvide a forum for extension agents to introduce technologiestechnologies Reduce public extension costReduce public extension cost Seek advices from different organizationsSeek advices from different organizations Disseminate information to wide spectrum ofDisseminate information to wide spectrum of usersusers Group efforts usually have social approvalGroup efforts usually have social approval
• 8.
  Types of GroupsTypesof Groups • Self Help GroupsSelf Help Groups • Farmer Interest Groups /Farmer Interest Groups / Commodity InterestCommodity Interest GroupsGroups • Rythu Mitra groups /Rythu Mitra groups / Farmers clubsFarmers clubs • Water User AssociationsWater User Associations • Vana SamrakshanaVana Samrakshana SamithisSamithis • Livestock BreedersLivestock Breeders AssociationAssociation • Dairy cooperativesDairy cooperatives
• 9.
   Area /Resource development GroupsArea / Resource development Groups • Watershed committees / AssociationsWatershed committees / Associations • Water User AssociationsWater User Associations • Vana Samraksshana SamithisVana Samraksshana Samithis  Groups with a purpose of service deliveryGroups with a purpose of service delivery • Mothers committeeMothers committee • School education committees / Village educationSchool education committees / Village education committeescommittees  Groups with focus on individual growthGroups with focus on individual growth • Women SHGs / DWCRA groupsWomen SHGs / DWCRA groups • Youth groupsYouth groups  Commodity Interest GroupsCommodity Interest Groups • Rythu Mithra Groups ( RMGs) /Rythu Mithra Groups ( RMGs) / Farmers clubsFarmers clubs • Livestock Breeders Association / Dairy cooperativesLivestock Breeders Association / Dairy cooperatives
• 10.
  Adjourning Task Performing Forming Storming Norming FARMER GROUPS FORMATION
• 11.
  Farmer Groups Performancedepend on….Farmer Groups Performance depend on…. Communication and Cooperation in the groupCommunication and Cooperation in the group Shared leadership and leadership emergenceShared leadership and leadership emergence Interpersonal work group processInterpersonal work group process Intra group trustIntra group trust Workload sharingWorkload sharing External conditions imposed on the groupExternal conditions imposed on the group Group member resourcesGroup member resources Group structure –Group structure – leadership, roles, norms, status, sizeleadership, roles, norms, status, size Goal clarityGoal clarity OpennessOpenness FeedbackFeedback Group taskGroup task
• 12.
  Extension agency factorsthat influence…Extension agency factors that influence… Technical capabilities of extensionTechnical capabilities of extension staffstaff Staff’s people skills in managingStaff’s people skills in managing groupsgroups Staff attitudes and commitment toStaff attitudes and commitment to groupsgroups Approaches usedApproaches used Means or Ends distinctionMeans or Ends distinction Support for field extension staffSupport for field extension staff
• 13.
  Three functions tosatisfy group needsThree functions to satisfy group needs Achieving the group task Developing the individual Building and Maintaining the group
• 14.
  Leadership DevelopmentLeadership Development STYLEOF LEADER MATURITY OF FOLLOWER(S) (LOW) TASK BEHAVIOR (HIGH) RELATIONSHIPBEHAVIOR(HIGH) Low Relationshi p and Low Task High Task and Low Relationship High Relationship and Low Task High Task and High Relationship HIGH MODERATE LOW Mature Immature
• 15.
  Success of FarmerGroups…Success of Farmer Groups… Recognition it gets from various bodiesRecognition it gets from various bodies Focus on income generating activitiesFocus on income generating activities Abilities of membersAbilities of members Visible benefits to its membersVisible benefits to its members Extension officials supportExtension officials support Participatory approachesParticipatory approaches Linkages with people and organizationsLinkages with people and organizations Tie up with other developmentTie up with other development programmesprogrammes Inter group linkagesInter group linkages Capacity building of farmer groupsCapacity building of farmer groups
• 16.
  FARMERFARMER ORGANISATIONSORGANISATIONS
• 17.
  Types ofTypes of FarmerOrganizationsFarmer Organizations Community based, resource orientedCommunity based, resource oriented farmer organizationfarmer organization Commodity based, market oriented farmerCommodity based, market oriented farmer organizationorganization
• 18.
  Roles ofRoles of FarmerorganizationsFarmer organizations Representational roleRepresentational role Technology roleTechnology role Service roleService role
• 19.
  Developing a FarmerorganizationDeveloping a Farmer organization  Study the village situation in detailStudy the village situation in detail  Identify issues and problems to build a farmerIdentify issues and problems to build a farmer organizationorganization  Locate potential leaders in the communityLocate potential leaders in the community  Seed the concept of farmer organization among themSeed the concept of farmer organization among them  Sow the cooperation of various agencies working withSow the cooperation of various agencies working with similar objectivessimilar objectives  Conduct community meetings through local leadersConduct community meetings through local leaders  Make the purpose of the organization very clearMake the purpose of the organization very clear  Nominate core group leaders to develop the farmerNominate core group leaders to develop the farmer organizationorganization  Develop an organizational structureDevelop an organizational structure  Provide action learning situation to develop theProvide action learning situation to develop the management of farmer organizationmanagement of farmer organization  Prepare plan of action using participatory actionPrepare plan of action using participatory action management cyclemanagement cycle  Implement the plan of actionImplement the plan of action  Monitor and evaluate the farmer organization's progressMonitor and evaluate the farmer organization's progress
• 20.
  Farmers may beorganized atFarmers may be organized at Four levelsFour levels Farmers Interest Groups ( FIGs )Farmers Interest Groups ( FIGs ) Sectoral Farmers Association ( SFA )Sectoral Farmers Association ( SFA ) District Farmers Forum ( DFF )District Farmers Forum ( DFF ) State Farmers Federation ( SFF )State Farmers Federation ( SFF )
• 21.
  Role ofRole of ExtensionProfessionalsExtension Professionals…… Mobilization and organization roleMobilization and organization role Capacity building roleCapacity building role Problem solving and educating roleProblem solving and educating role Business support provider roleBusiness support provider role
• 22.
  Examples of Groupled extension in IndiaExamples of Group led extension in India  KERALAKERALA initiated group approach toinitiated group approach to extension for RICE farming in 1989extension for RICE farming in 1989 and subsequently extended to otherand subsequently extended to other cropscrops  Formation of community groups toFormation of community groups to improve productivity and reduce costimprove productivity and reduce cost of cultivationof cultivation
• 23.
  Examples…Examples…  RAJASTHANRAJASTHAN adoptedthe groupadopted the group approach to extension in 1992 andapproach to extension in 1992 and currently VEO visits village and impartcurrently VEO visits village and impart training totraining to kisan mandalkisan mandal farmers oncefarmers once in a fortnightin a fortnight
• 24.
  Examples…Examples…  InIn ANDHRAPRADESHANDHRA PRADESH, Farmers, Farmers Clubs ( RMGs ) are formed toClubs ( RMGs ) are formed to propagate developmental Schemespropagate developmental Schemes and facilitate TOTand facilitate TOT  Govt provides Rs 1500 to each clubGovt provides Rs 1500 to each club for its formationfor its formation  Two lakh clubsTwo lakh clubs
• 25.
  RMGs in A.P– Main ObjectivesRMGs in A.P – Main Objectives  To function as interface between extension systemTo function as interface between extension system and farmers for TOT and sharing of marketand farmers for TOT and sharing of market informationinformation  To become self reliant for carrying outTo become self reliant for carrying out developmental activities through their owndevelopmental activities through their own resources and efforts; and also for developingresources and efforts; and also for developing linkages with credit institutions as well as otherlinkages with credit institutions as well as other developmental departmentsdevelopmental departments  To interact and exchange ideas on scientificTo interact and exchange ideas on scientific agricultureagriculture  To take up, in addition to social activities, variousTo take up, in addition to social activities, various dev. activities like soil testing camps, animal healthdev. activities like soil testing camps, animal health camps etccamps etc  To formulate an optimal resource based andTo formulate an optimal resource based and market driven farmer strategymarket driven farmer strategy
• 26.
  Functioning of RMGsFunctioningof RMGs  A group of 15 farmers- Start with aA group of 15 farmers- Start with a unique nameunique name  Only one member from a familyOnly one member from a family  Thrift and credit on the lines of SHGsThrift and credit on the lines of SHGs  Monthly thrift – Rs.50/- per month.Monthly thrift – Rs.50/- per month.  Rs.2500/- from government to takeRs.2500/- from government to take care of capacity building and matchingcare of capacity building and matching grant of Rs.15,000/- per group togrant of Rs.15,000/- per group to mature RMGsmature RMGs..
• 27.
  Abhyudaya Karshak Parishat,AbhyudayaKarshak Parishat, Mukkamala, EG, A.PMukkamala, EG, A.P  Estd in 1989Estd in 1989  Trainings on Paddy and CoconutTrainings on Paddy and Coconut  Emphasis on IPM and INMEmphasis on IPM and INM  Farmer to farmer extensionFarmer to farmer extension  ProductivityProductivity  Field visitsField visits
• 28.
  Examples…Examples…  HIMACHAL PRADESHHIMACHALPRADESH is formingis forming Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) toFarmer Interest Groups (FIGs) to implement many schemesimplement many schemes  The Central Sector Scheme onThe Central Sector Scheme on Women in Agriculture (CSSWA) isWomen in Agriculture (CSSWA) is being implemented through womenbeing implemented through women SHGs promoted through thisSHGs promoted through this programmeprogramme
• 29.
  Examples…Examples…  NABARD, UttarakhandNABARD,Uttarakhand formed SHGs offormed SHGs of micro-financing, access to credit andmicro-financing, access to credit and strengthen their negotiation powerstrengthen their negotiation power through collective marketingthrough collective marketing  Emerged as Vegetable and FruitEmerged as Vegetable and Fruit Promotion in uttarakhandPromotion in uttarakhand
• 30.
  Examples…Examples…  Cashew RatnainCashew Ratna in MAHARASHTRAMAHARASHTRA :: Cashew growers in Ratnagiri formedCashew growers in Ratnagiri formed into groups and marketed cashewinto groups and marketed cashew under the name ofunder the name of Cashew RatnaCashew Ratna andand reaped benefitsreaped benefits  Commodity Based Groups – BlockCommodity Based Groups – Block Level Processors Group – DistrictLevel Processors Group – District levellevel  Grading, Packing, MarketingGrading, Packing, Marketing
• 31.
  Processors Group 1 2 34 Block Level Processors Group District Level Cp & Farmer Orgn. Common Godown •Grading •Packing •Further grading •Packing •Marketing State :Maharashtra District :Ratnagiri CASHEW RATNA Commodity Based Groups
• 32.
  Efficiency of GroupapproachEfficiency of Group approach over Individual approachover Individual approach ApproachApproach ParticipationParticipation in extensionin extension activities ofactivities of KVK ( % )KVK ( % ) ParticipationParticipation in decisionin decision makingmaking ( % )( % ) TechnologyTechnology adoptionadoption by theby the farmersfarmers Spread ofSpread of technologytechnology Extent ofExtent of feedbackfeedback NetworkingNetworking IndividualIndividual 15-2015-20 1-21-2 slowslow slowslow somesome poorpoor GroupGroup 100100 90-10090-100 fastfast fastfast 70-80%70-80% effectiveeffective Das P DDG ICAR Indian farming November 2002
• 33.
  Skills required forFarmer groupsSkills required for Farmer groups S. NoS. No AreaArea Skill /Skill / CompetenciesCompetencies to be developedto be developed Ways andWays and Means ofMeans of developingdeveloping skillskill InstitutionsInstitutions who canwho can helphelp 11 TechnicalTechnical 22 ManagerialManagerial 33 Any otherAny other
• 34.
  Initiatives to betaken to organizeInitiatives to be taken to organize farmers in groupsfarmers in groups  Policy decision to contact farmers in groupsPolicy decision to contact farmers in groups instead of individual contactsinstead of individual contacts  Groups should be demand drivenGroups should be demand driven  Group formation could be taken up where someGroup formation could be taken up where some NGOs / societies are workingNGOs / societies are working  Disseminate the message about the advantagesDisseminate the message about the advantages of group formationof group formation  Size of the group should be kept smallSize of the group should be kept small  Demonstrate the process of group formation byDemonstrate the process of group formation by organizing visits of group of farmers to alreadyorganizing visits of group of farmers to already developed active farmers groups in nearby areasdeveloped active farmers groups in nearby areas
• 35.
  Conclusions…Conclusions…  Sustainable groupsand organizations are mustSustainable groups and organizations are must for over all development of farmersfor over all development of farmers  Extension strategies should involve groupsExtension strategies should involve groups  Public, Private extension agencies and NGOsPublic, Private extension agencies and NGOs should involve farmer groupsshould involve farmer groups  Govt departments should play a supporting roleGovt departments should play a supporting role in formation and management of farmer groupsin formation and management of farmer groups  Extension functionaries should have skills ofExtension functionaries should have skills of facilitationfacilitation