PLURALISM IN EXTENSION EDUCATION METHODOLOGIES FOR TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS (A Case of Potato Technology in India)

Abstract

Existence of several service providers in the Extension Systems has necessitated the convergence of their activities to make extension methods more robust and effective. In this paper, attempts are made to substantiate the models of the respective service providers with their relevant research support. Experiences emanated from these models approaches have revealed that no single recipe is valid across various agro-ecological reasons. Combination of approaches seems to be appropriate provided the felt needs and priorities of the farmers are accurately addressed. A point is, therefore, drawn that for a given commodity different possible options of technology applications be embedded in a prevailing agro-eco situations. Pluralism is thus needed more at micro levels of extension education methodologies rather than in institutional protocols of technology applications.