Privatization of Agricultural Extension Service

1. Privatisation ofPrivatisation of
Agricultural ExtensionAgricultural Extension
ServiceService
Dr. Arpita Sharma
Assistant Professor,
GBPUA&T, Pantnagar

2. PrivatizationPrivatization
 Process of funding and delivering the extension services by privateProcess of funding and delivering the extension services by private
individual or organization iscalled PrivateExtensionindividual or organization iscalled PrivateExtension
 Privatisation is the act of reducing the role of government orPrivatisation is the act of reducing the role of government or
increasing the role of private sector in an activity or in theincreasing the role of private sector in an activity or in the
ownership of assetsownership of assets
 Privatisation is the incidence or process of transferring ownershipPrivatisation is the incidence or process of transferring ownership
of business from the public sector (government) to the privateof business from the public sector (government) to the private
sector (business)sector (business)
 Private Extension is solely the act of private individuals orPrivate Extension is solely the act of private individuals or
organizations where the decision of privatization solely rests withorganizations where the decision of privatization solely rests with
government implemented in liaison with Private Extension Servicegovernment implemented in liaison with Private Extension Service
ProviderProvider

3. Services rendered in the area of agriculture and alliedServices rendered in the area of agriculture and allied
aspects by extension personnel working in privateaspects by extension personnel working in private
agencies or organizations for which farmers areagencies or organizations for which farmers are
expected to pay afee(or free) and it can beviewed asexpected to pay afee(or free) and it can beviewed as
supplementary or alternative to public extensionsupplementary or alternative to public extension
services”.services”.
Privatisation of Agricultural Extension Service (PAES)

4. Public Extension System in IndiaPublic Extension System in India
 India public extension system concentrated onIndia public extension system concentrated on
rural community development objectives, ratherrural community development objectives, rather
than having strong agriculture focusthan having strong agriculture focus
 Policy issuePolicy issue
 Disappointing in transfer of technologiesDisappointing in transfer of technologies

5. Weak points of Public extensionWeak points of Public extension
systemsystem
Extension worker : Farmers ratio-1:1000Extension worker : Farmers ratio-1:1000
Inability to reach all farmersInability to reach all farmers
Ineffective Extension servicesIneffective Extension services
No need assessmentNo need assessment
Women involvement is lowWomen involvement is low

6.  Indian agriculture is self reliant in foodIndian agriculture is self reliant in food
production.production.
 Out of 1,10,000 extension staff of whomOut of 1,10,000 extension staff of whom
around 20% are graduatesaround 20% are graduates
 Low cost technologyLow cost technology

7.  The primary goal of Government is to MaintainThe primary goal of Government is to Maintain
food security.food security.
 India is in process of privatizing its inputIndia is in process of privatizing its input
system to improve farmer access to purchasedsystem to improve farmer access to purchased
inputs and to create a more efficient inputinputs and to create a more efficient input
supply system.supply system.

8. Privatization of extension refers to servicesPrivatization of extension refers to services
rendered in rural area & allied aspects ofrendered in rural area & allied aspects of
extension personnel working in private agenciesextension personnel working in private agencies
or organization for which farmers are expectedor organization for which farmers are expected
to pay a fee & it can be viewed asto pay a fee & it can be viewed as
supplementary or alternative to public extensionsupplementary or alternative to public extension
services. (Sarvanan & Shivalinge 1980)services. (Sarvanan & Shivalinge 1980)

9. Privatization approachesPrivatization approaches
 Share cropping systemShare cropping system
 Village extension contract systemVillage extension contract system
 Public extension through privatePublic extension through private
deliverydelivery
 Service for vouchersService for vouchers

10. In India more than 70% of operational farm holdings are small andIn India more than 70% of operational farm holdings are small and
marginal, and 70% of net sown area is rain fed, susceptible tomarginal, and 70% of net sown area is rain fed, susceptible to
external vagaries where farmers are mostly small and marginalexternal vagaries where farmers are mostly small and marginal
working in resource poor and risk situations with poor infrastructureworking in resource poor and risk situations with poor infrastructure
and intuitional support. so the scope of privatization is limited.and intuitional support. so the scope of privatization is limited.
(Kamerman and Kahn,1994)(Kamerman and Kahn,1994)
 Introducing share cropping systemIntroducing share cropping system
 Giving partnership and more responsibility to privateGiving partnership and more responsibility to private
sector and NGO.sector and NGO.

11. AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PROGRAMMESAGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PROGRAMMES
USING PRIVATIZED SERVICE PROVISIONUSING PRIVATIZED SERVICE PROVISION
Agriclinics and AgribusinessAgriclinics and Agribusiness
Centres, India.Centres, India.
 Agribusiness Initiatives. IndiaAgribusiness Initiatives. India

12. Favourable Factors for Privatization ofFavourable Factors for Privatization of
Agricultural Extension in IndiaAgricultural Extension in India
 Technological advancement in the areas ofTechnological advancement in the areas of
Communication Information TechnologyCommunication Information Technology
 Opening out of public research andOpening out of public research and
educational institutes to part with theeducational institutes to part with the
technologiestechnologies
 Changing-cropping trend and emergence ofChanging-cropping trend and emergence of
contract farmingcontract farming
 Need to earn more from smaller holdingsNeed to earn more from smaller holdings
 Loss of credibility in the existing extensionLoss of credibility in the existing extension
systemsystem
 Inability of the public extension system toInability of the public extension system to
reach the large targetreach the large target

13.  More demand - driven ratherthan supply – drivenMore demand - driven ratherthan supply – driven
 High quality of services in terms of satisfying information needs ofHigh quality of services in terms of satisfying information needs of
clientele, trained manpower, sustained finances and resource allocationclientele, trained manpower, sustained finances and resource allocation
 Provides foran information mix and choices available to farmersProvides foran information mix and choices available to farmers
 Enhanced efficiency of staffEnhanced efficiency of staff
 Assure continuous supply and quality agricultural productsAssure continuous supply and quality agricultural products
 More effective because farmercan select an adviser who is the best ableMore effective because farmercan select an adviser who is the best able
to helpto help
 Healthy competition among service providerwill lead to betterquality andHealthy competition among service providerwill lead to betterquality and
lowercosts forservicelowercosts forservice
Strengths of Private Extension System

14.  Concentrateon areahaving favorablephysical environmentConcentrateon areahaving favorablephysical environment
 Moreface-to-facecontacts(person oriented)Moreface-to-facecontacts(person oriented)
 Increased dependenceof farmersand henceexploitationIncreased dependenceof farmersand henceexploitation
 No education roleNo education role
 Deprivation of small farmersDeprivation of small farmers
 Hamper thefreeflow of informationHamper thefreeflow of information
Weakness of Private Extension System

15. 12/15/16