Privatization in agriculture refers to reducing the role of the government and increasing the role of private sector in agricultural extension services. Private extension involves personnel from private agencies or organizations providing fee-based services to farmers as a supplement to public extension. Private extension can provide various services like information, inputs, infrastructure, technical support, marketing, consultancy, and more. Payment models include fees per visit, portion of increased income, membership fees, and custom service fees. While privatization can increase efficiency and specialized services, it also risks hindering free flow of information, declining farmer-agency contact, threats to sustainability from commercial interests, and only benefiting commercial farmers. International experiences with privatization include cost recovery, voucher systems, gradual privat

1. PRIVATIZATION IN
AGRICULTURE

2. PRIVATIZATION
 It is an act of reducing the role of government or increasing the role
of private sector in an activity or an ownership of assets.
 Privatization of extension service refers to the service rendered in
the area of agricultural and allied aspects by extension personnel
working in private agencies or organizations for which farmers are
expected to pay a fee and it can be viewed as a supplementary to
public extension services.

3. ELEMENTS OF PRIVATE EXTENSION SYSTEM
 Objectives
 Target group
 Mandates
 Extension personnel
 Funding
 Extension method

4. SERVICES RENDERED
 Information
 Input supply
 Infrastructure
 Technical service
 Marketing service
 Enterprises
 Consultancy

5. MODE OF PAYMENT
 Fee per visit
 Portion of extra income
 Customs service fee
 Membership fees

6. ADVANTAGES
 Reduces economic burden of governments.
 Efficient extension services.
 Competency in research system.
 Availability of specialized services.
 Controlled by the government.

7. DISADVANTAGES
 Hindrance to free flow of information.
 Contact between farmers and private agencies may decline.
 Commercial interest – a threat to eco-friendly and
sustainable agriculture.
 Only commercial farmers are benefited.
 Not interested in sharing of technologies.

8. PRIVATIZATION-INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES
 Cost recovery approach (Britain-1987(ADAS) and Mexico)
 Voucher systems (Chile and Colombia)
 Gradual privatization (Netherland-1990)
 Partial funding (France)
 Farmers organization (Denmark)
 Germany
 Agricultural consultants/firms (Japan)

9. PRIVATE EXTENSION AGENCIES IN INDIA
 Agricultural consultants (PAN Horti, Green Plus-Agro)
 KVKs (600 KVKs)
 Farmers Association (KMGA, MGGA)
 Producers Cooperative
 Input Companies (Seeds, Fertilizers)
 NGOs
 Mass media