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Moderated conference on rural advisory services for family farms: 1-18 December 2014

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Tue, 2 Dec 2014 17:37:40 +0100
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This is Mahesh Chander again, supplementing the views of Mr Cameron (Message 5).



The different categories of farmers respond to information and technologies in different ways considering their resource domains. A small-scale farmer may hesitate to grab the new technology like large sized high yielding exotic cattle breeds like Holstein Friesian compared to a wealthier farmer due to differences in their risk-bearing abilities. When designing extension interventions, it is important to keep in mind that technology should not be thrust upon farmers. They need time in persuading themselves and getting ready to accept the technology. Many a time farmers are happier in what they have been doing than switching to new technologies which they perceive as risky! 



Take for instance the case of the cattle crossbreeding programme in India which is being implemented since the 1960's. In over the last 50 years, the crossbred population has not crossed over 15% with huge regional variations. The situation is compelling to rethink the breeding strategy to selection upgradation of the proven indigenous breeds rather than crossbreeding involving exotic breeds. One lesson we can clearly draw from such experiences is that the technology has to be appropriate, matching to the resource domain of categories of farmers not across all categories of farmers (one size fits all types). The technologies to be promoted in irrigated areas are obviously different from the technologies being promoted in drylands so should be the technologies for large farmers and small scale farmers if we want to speed up diffusion and adoption rate.

 

Dr Mahesh Chander

Head

Division of Extension Education

Indian Veterinary research Institute, 

Izatnagar (UP) 

India

Phone +91 581 2302391, Fax: +91 581 2303284

Email: Mahesh64 (at) email.com

 

[To contribute to this conference, send your message to [log in to unmask] For further information, see http://www.fao.org/nr/research-extension-systems/res-home/news/detail/en/c/264776/  



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