Directorate of Agricultural Extension, DoAE

"Agricultural extension service is one of the major under taking of the government to educate, disseminate information and support the livelihoods of the Nepalese farmers. Extension teaches farmers about improved technologies so that they can increase agricultural production and productivity, there by enhancing their living standard. The extension service supports the farming communities to empower them for making good decisions for their welfare.

Since 1950, the country has practiced several extension models and approaches, with support from donors or from the government’s own resources. The models or approaches adapted in Nepal are Conventional, T and V, Block Development, Tuki, Farming System Research, Farmer Group Approach, Contract out / Partnership of Extension Program, IPM (Farmers Field School) and others. Although all these approaches have some strengths and weakness, they have made significant contribution for transfer of technology to the farmers.

Initially, Agricultural Extension System in Nepal was used as synonymous to government or public services. The economic globalization, liberalization, privatization and advent of information and communication technologies have been brought tremendous changes in the field of agriculture development. The needs and interests of the farmers for recent knowledge and information of production technologies and production objectives are changing rapidly. Thus, farming is now closely linked with quality production, market competitiveness and sustainability rather than increasing production alone. As a result of the paradigm shift in agriculture, the role of government extension system has also changed. It is realized that the role of government should be shifted to the facilitation role and the private sectors should be encouraged to provide the extension services. Now, there are different types of organizations other than government agencies providing extension services to the farmers on contract out and partnership basis.

In spite of the significant efforts made by the extension system, however, there are still several problems and issues that require due attention to be paid for more efficient and effective performance. One of the major challenges for agricultural extension system is how to serve the majority of rural poor and socially disadvantaged groups who had long been neglected by extension and other services. Other issues are inadequate linkage among research and extension, education, farmers and other stakeholders, poor infra-structural development, insufficient number of extension personnel etc. to cater diversified agricultural services."

(http://www.agriextension.gov.np/eng/introduction.php, retrieved July 2011)

---

Examples of Projects with Extension Component

Education for Income Generation (EIG) Program

"Winrock-Implemented EIG Program Honored as Best Practice by InterAction

The Winrock-implemented Education for Income Generation (EIG) Program is facilitating social change within households in Nepal through the unique combination of income generation with entrepreneurial literacy courses. Earlier this month, the USAID-funded program was honored by InterAction with the Best Practice Award for Access to Markets and Entrepreneurial Literacy.

EIG provides training in market-linked agriculture production, home-based enterprises and vocational training along with an integrated entrepreneurial literacy class that teaches numeracy, business planning, credit, life skills, governance, nutrition and basic health care. Young women in Nepal are often marginalized in their husband’s homes, lack decision-making power and are sometimes food-insecure. Through EIG, they are gaining the confidence that comes from knowledge, as well as respect from their husbands and mothers-in-law by earning income. Consequently, these empowered women play a greater role in decisions – changing customs revolving around nutrition, health and children’s education." (Winrock newsletter, May 2011)"

---

Gary A., D. Byerlee, M. Helene-Collion, and W. Rivera. 2004. Extension and Rural Development: Converging Views on Institutional Approaches. Agriculture and Rural Development Discussion Paper 4. The World Bank. Retrieved on November 1, 2011 from
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTARD/825826-1111129171182/20431824/DiscussionPaper4Final.pdf

Dillon, A., M. Sharma, and Xiaobo Zhang. 2011. Estimating the Impact of Access to Infrastructure and Extension Services in Rural Nepal. Research Monograph, 2011. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Retrieved on November 1, 2011 from http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/rr173.pdf

Dercon, S., D. O. Gilligan, J. Hoddinott, and T. Woldehanna. 2009. The impact of agricultural extension and roads on poverty and consumption growth in fifteen villages. American Journal of Agricultural Economics 91 (4): 1007–1021

Ganesh Kumar, K.C., D. Pradhan, B. P. Upadhyay, and S. Upadhyay. 2003. Sharing Country Agricultural Extension Experiences, Challenges and Opportunities. Country: Napal. Prepared for Regional Workshop on Operationalizing Agriculture Extension Reform in South Asia. Retrieved on November 1, 2011 from http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/51025/ZipAgExtension1/ag_extension1/Materials/Plenary/Nepal.pdf

Ojha, G. P. and S. R. Morin. 2001. Partnership in Agricultural Extension: Lessons From Chitwan (Nepal). ODI Agren. Agricultural Research & Extension Network (AgREN). Network Paper No. 114 July 2001. Retrieved on November 1, 2011 from http://www.odi.org.uk/work/projects/agren/papers/agrenpaper_114.pdf

Center for Rural Development and Self-help (CRDS). 2007. Impacts of Participatory Extension Program on Technical Efficiency of Farmers in Nepal. Submitted to South Asian Network of Economic Institutes (SANEI). Retrieved on November 1, 2011 from
http://www.saneinetwork.net/pdf/SANEI_VII/projec_%208.pdf