Main models and development trends of agricultural extension

Agricultural extension system and development trend at present stage

Agricultural development depends on science and technology, and scientific and technological transformation depends on popularization. In the past century, agricultural extension has made great contributions to increasing agricultural production, increasing farmers' income and rural prosperity. On the other hand, a reasonable agricultural extension system (model) is of great significance to play its role.

Agricultural extension system is an organizational system adopted by the state to carry out agricultural extension work, including the organizational form and management mode of agricultural extension institutions. It reflects the guiding ideology and policy objectives of the country to carry out agricultural extension work, the ways and methods of managing agricultural extension work, and the specific measures taken. With the continuous progress of society, the agricultural extension system is also constantly developing and improving. Today, the agricultural extension model is different in every country, even in different parts of the same country, it is not necessarily the same. Here is a brief introduction to different agricultural extension models:

First, the main mode of agricultural extension at this stage

1. Traditional agricultural extension (service provision) mode

This model mainly exists in developing countries. Its goal is to increase production and income; Its target is all farmers, but some farmers are often selected as contact households and demonstration households; General extension agencies are established under the leadership of government agricultural departments; Mainly by direct personal promotion, carry out publicity, training, demonstration and guidance activities for farmers; Extension workers act as educators and information disseminators.

2. The mode of combining training with visiting.

This is an attempt to reform the conventional promotion mode and improve the promotion efficiency. Many developing countries are introducing and applying this method.

3. Education, scientific research and popularization of "Trinity" cooperative agricultural extension system.

The typical representative of this model is the United States, which is characterized by a sound organizational system for promotion, tacit cooperation between the Federation, States, counties and volunteers in personnel and project activities, rich promotion content, sufficient funds and capable personnel. It provides funds for cooperative projects between the federal government, state and local governments through legislation, and one or several agricultural universities in the state organize and carry out extension tasks, which is characterized by cooperative relations.

4. Commodity development and production system

In this mode, extension work is linked with input supply, technology introduction and other agricultural services. The goal of this system is mainly to develop individual commodities, and there are careful arrangements for technology development, technology dissemination and market sales. Its object is generally limited to farmers in this commodity producing area. Usually, an independent, semi-autonomous professional company established to produce a commodity provides farmers with relevant market information services such as research, promotion, investment and supply.

5. Project-driven extension mode, that is, through the support of major projects, the credit, water conservancy, agriculture and other departments are integrated together to carry out a series of extension services for farmers.

This is to organize cooperation on special projects that affect agricultural development in specific geographical areas and promote the development of local agricultural production. The main limiting factor of agricultural development in these areas is often the lack of cooperation or investment, so this model is needed.

6. Comprehensive rural development plan

This model reflects the concept of rural development to promote social and economic development. It is based on the economic and social development goals of the planning area. The main contents include: introducing technology to increase agricultural output and income; Improve the quality of farmers, especially to stimulate their self-confidence and creative spirit; Set goals for health, transportation and basic education.

7. The development mode of farming system, that is, taking farmers (farms) as a comprehensive whole and developing systematic technology, enables farmers to obtain comprehensive benefits.

The purpose of this method is to provide extension workers with research results specially designed to meet local farming conditions and farmers' needs and interests. Field personnel are usually highly specialized. The plan is realized through the mutual cooperation of research and extension personnel and the cooperation with local farmers. The characteristic of agricultural system development is to establish a cooperative partnership between extension workers and researchers, and ask them to go deep into the countryside together, analyze and study the agricultural system, fully understand the needs of farmers or farms, and regard farmers or farms as an integrated system.

8. Self-organizing service mode of farmers or producers.

This model is the core extension organization model in France, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Japan and Taiwan Province Province of China. For example, the dual-track extension system of the Japanese government and the Agricultural Association has a wide range of extension work, mainly involving agricultural production guidance and farmers' life guidance. Corresponding organizations have been established at all levels in the country from top to bottom to provide diversified consulting services.

Second, the main trend of the development of agricultural extension system

With the continuous progress of science and technology and the enhancement of farmers' economic strength, in the next 50- 100 years, the main goal of agricultural extension will still be the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and its development trend is: the extension goal will shift from increasing production to paying attention to economic, social and ecological benefits, and gradually develop into the overall goal of agricultural extension to develop rural areas, agriculture and farmers' production and improve their lives; The content of extension work has been broadened from mid-production services to prenatal and postnatal services, and gradually developed into agricultural extension consulting services, that is, in addition to agriculture, it also includes other fields of production and life that farmers need, such as society, economy, market, management, credit, housekeeping, law and culture. On the basis of developing rural social market economy, pay more attention to the development of human resources; The object of extension service is no longer just farmers, but should be a strategic way for all rural people to promote, from top-down administrative instructions to bottom-up voluntary consultation, supplemented by other models; The organizational system of promotion will further develop in the direction of diversification and integration, and the strength of non-governmental promotion organizations will continue to strengthen; The means and methods of promotion are constantly being updated. Communication will become the basic method of agricultural extension consultation, and computers and mass media will be widely used. (Chen Liangyu, Gao)

Of course, according to the differences of agricultural production potential, economic development level and industrial structure in different regions, different models should be adopted for different regions and determined in different regions according to local conditions. Furthermore, according to the industrial structure of each region, the specific mode is determined in different regions according to local conditions, supplemented by other modes, and the combination mode is determined according to certain procedures and types.

In short, no matter how the society develops in the future, agricultural extension will continue to play its important role, and the agricultural extension system will also present the following characteristics:

1. Promote diversity of elements. Agricultural leading institutions, agricultural scientific research institutions, agricultural colleges and universities, agricultural technology extension units, farmers (farmers), etc. Will become the relevant participants in the promotion, covering not only agriculture, but also other fields of production and life that farmers need, such as society, economy, market, management, credit, housekeeping, law and culture.

2. The complexity of the promotion model. A single extension model has not adapted to the increasingly complex agricultural economy and society, and it needs the optimal combination of various extension models to work together.

3. Agricultural colleges and agricultural scientific research institutions will continue to play a driving role.

4. Computer network technology will be widely used in agricultural extension.

Agricultural information services in Germany are mainly realized through three types of computer networks. One is the electric power data management system (EDV) developed and operated by the State Plant Protection Bureau, and the other is the TV screen text display service system (BTX) developed and operated by the post and telecommunications system. Users must buy a BTX host and keyboard, and connect with TV and telephone, so that they can obtain agricultural information service and crop pest prediction information service through the communication network of the post office. Thirdly, PHYTOMED, pesticide residue database INTERPRET and pest management database developed and built by German Agricultural and Forestry Biological Research Center are mostly hosted by the mainframe of German Computing Center in Cologne, which stores hundreds of databases from all walks of life in Germany, including more than 30 agricultural databases.

Any microcomputer user or large computer terminal user connected with the large computer of German Computing Center, such as agricultural leading institutions, agricultural scientific research institutions, agricultural colleges and universities, agricultural technology extension units, farmers equipped with computers, etc. , you can connect with the mainframe computer of the German Computing Center through the national post and telecommunications network system, and users who have purchased the database access password can query the internal customers in the database at any time. No matter where in China, after online connection, you usually only need to wait 1-3 seconds, and the query results can be displayed on the display screen or printed on the printer. (Ethan, Meng Xiaohong)

5. For the promotion of high-tech, we can adopt information consultation mode, technology transfer mode, high-tech development mode and technology radiation mode to improve the corresponding technology market and market mechanism, such as the diversified organization mode of "companies plus farmers", "non-governmental organizations plus farmers" or various combination modes similar to "companies plus associations plus farmers". The service modes of these modes are diversified, the paid service modes are increasing, and the suburban type is gradually formed. (Chen Liangyu, Gao)

All extension systems in the United States are commercialized, but the agricultural extension system absolutely does not charge farmers a penny. Because farmers are vulnerable groups, especially affected by unpredictable factors of natural forces, once they encounter disasters, it is difficult to have the ability to save themselves, and they need external help most. (Yang) According to

However, with the continuous improvement of the market economy, this pattern may change.

6. Within a period of time after the development of paid services, the position of the government in agricultural extension will be weakened.

References:

[1] Chen Liangyu, high. Optimizing agricultural extension mode and developing agricultural extension cause.

[2] Wu, Zhang Gaiqing American cooperative agricultural extension system and its enlightenment to China. Journal of Shanxi Agricultural University (Social Science Edition)

[3] Ethan, Meng Xiaohong. American cooperative agricultural extension system

[4] Li Yuan, Meng Xiaohong. Japan's dual-track agricultural extension system

National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center. Agricultural extension abroad [M]. Beijing: China Agricultural Publishing House, 2001.15-16.

[6] Wu Jun. Study on Agricultural Extension System in China

[7]. Interview with Professor Yang Xiusheng of the University of Connecticut, USA: Building a new agricultural science and technology extension system. Science times. March 2, 2006

Yang. International comparison of agricultural extension. National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center

[9] Li Yuan, Meng Xiaohong, German computer network technology applied to agriculture

[9] Anonymous. Suggestions on strengthening the basic agricultural technology extension service system in China. China Net 2006-03-02