3.1 Agricultural Extension Organization
The Department of Agriculture (DOA), headed by a Director General, is the sole government institution responsible for providing public extension services to the farmers. The DOA performs functions including extension towards the following objectives:
The increased production of major crops;
The development of improved production technology through proper research on
management of soil crop and pest control;
The development of suitable high-yielding crop varieties;
The transfer of appropriate crop production technology through agricultural extension
program;
The distribution of certified seeds through the seed program;
The provision of agricultural inputs;
The classification of soils and advising on soil conservation techniques;
The exploration of export markets on some agricultural produce.
The Department of Agriculture is one of 12 institutions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (Figure 3.1). It has eight divisions, the Agricultural Extension Division (AED) being the biggest. Recently, the AED has been undertaking the following extension activities:
Training and capacity building of extension agents;
Training of farmers in transfer of technology through Farmers Field Schools (FFS);
Farmers to farmers discussion, training and education;
Farmer-based participatory demonstration trials and field visits by local authorities and extension agents;
Delivery of educational materials, pamphlets, newsletters and books on new crops;
Education of farmers on the utilization of quality seed, drum seeder, combine harvester,dryers, etc.
Explanation of post-production losses in rice production to the farmers;
Cooperation among government, non-government and other relevant institutions for the
dissemination of advanced technology at village level.