Dr R P SinghAssociate Director Extension Education

Group Led Extension : An Effective Means For Promotion Of INM, IPM And IDM Technologies

A way of disseminating information and technologies on

Agricultural and Rural development through

group of farmers

It aims to develop local skills and empower

local people to solve their own problems

What is Group Led Extension?

Reasons for Group Led ExtensionReasons for Group Led Extension

EfficiencyEfficiency

EffectivenessEffectiveness

Collective actionCollective action

EquityEquity

Personalized or Group led extension ?Personalized or Group led extension ? Does the problem……….Does the problem……….

Require many steps to solveRequire many steps to solveHave many partsHave many partsRequire much technical informationRequire much technical informationNeed wide range of ideasNeed wide range of ideasRequire much timeRequire much timeInvolve many solutionsInvolve many solutionsInvolve considerable difficultiesInvolve considerable difficultiesTake into account the attitudes of Take into account the attitudes of individual / groupindividual / groupCarry a risk factorCarry a risk factor

If YES… Go for Group led extensionIf YES… Go for Group led extension

Why the People Join a group?Why the People Join a group?Group synergySupport and CommitmentInterpersonal needsDistributes the responsibility for a

given taskEffective communicationRegulate the interactionsGroup work provides for trustful

environment

Why Farmers Groups / Organizations ?Why Farmers Groups / Organizations ? Build interactions between extension and Build interactions between extension and

farming communityfarming community Extension from farmer to farmer is possibleExtension from farmer to farmer is possible Enable farmers to organize themselves for Enable farmers to organize themselves for

action or to share resourcesaction or to share resources Analyze farmers problems with extension Analyze farmers problems with extension

supportsupport More services can be made available to More services can be made available to

farmers through a single pointfarmers through a single point Provide more effective learning Provide more effective learning

environmentenvironment

Benefits of Farmer groupsBenefits of Farmer groupsShare the farm implements, machinery, planting Share the farm implements, machinery, planting material and other resourcesmaterial and other resourcesOrganize different servicesOrganize different servicesShare ideas, experiences and problemsShare ideas, experiences and problemsMake extension services more client drivenMake extension services more client drivenStrengthen bargaining power with tradersStrengthen bargaining power with tradersProvide a forum for extension agents to introduce Provide a forum for extension agents to introduce technologiestechnologiesReduce public extension costReduce public extension costSeek advices from different organizationsSeek advices from different organizationsDisseminate information to wide spectrum of Disseminate information to wide spectrum of users users Group efforts usually have social approval Group efforts usually have social approval

Types of GroupsTypes of Groups

• Self Help GroupsSelf Help Groups• Farmer Interest Groups / Farmer Interest Groups /

Commodity Interest Commodity Interest Groups Groups

• Rythu Mitra groups / Rythu Mitra groups / Farmers clubsFarmers clubs

• Water User AssociationsWater User Associations• Vana Samrakshana Vana Samrakshana

SamithisSamithis• Livestock Breeders Livestock Breeders

AssociationAssociation• Dairy cooperatives Dairy cooperatives

Area / Resource development GroupsArea / Resource development Groups• Watershed committees / AssociationsWatershed committees / Associations• Water User AssociationsWater User Associations• Vana Samraksshana SamithisVana Samraksshana Samithis

Groups with a purpose of service deliveryGroups with a purpose of service delivery• Mothers committeeMothers committee• School education committees / Village education School education committees / Village education

committeescommittees Groups with focus on individual growthGroups with focus on individual growth

• Women SHGs / DWCRA groupsWomen SHGs / DWCRA groups• Youth groupsYouth groups

Commodity Interest GroupsCommodity Interest Groups• Rythu Mithra Groups ( RMGs) / Rythu Mithra Groups ( RMGs) / Farmers clubsFarmers clubs• Livestock Breeders Association / Dairy cooperativesLivestock Breeders Association / Dairy cooperatives

Adjourning

Task

Performing

Forming

Storming

Norming

FARMER GROUPS

FORMATION

Farmer Groups Performance depend on….Farmer Groups Performance depend on….

Communication and Cooperation in the groupCommunication and Cooperation in the groupShared leadership and leadership emergenceShared leadership and leadership emergenceInterpersonal work group processInterpersonal work group processIntra group trustIntra group trustWorkload sharingWorkload sharingExternal conditions imposed on the groupExternal conditions imposed on the groupGroup member resourcesGroup member resourcesGroup structure – Group structure – leadership, roles, norms, status, sizeleadership, roles, norms, status, size

Goal clarityGoal clarityOpennessOpennessFeedbackFeedbackGroup taskGroup task

Extension agency factors that influence…Extension agency factors that influence…

Technical capabilities of extension Technical capabilities of extension staffstaff

Staff’s people skills in managing Staff’s people skills in managing groupsgroups

Staff attitudes and commitment to Staff attitudes and commitment to groupsgroups

Approaches usedApproaches used

Means or Ends distinctionMeans or Ends distinction

Support for field extension staff Support for field extension staff

Three functions to satisfy group needsThree functions to satisfy group needs

Achieving the group task

Developing the individual

Building and Maintaining the group

Leadership DevelopmentLeadership Development

STYLE OF LEADER

MATURITY OF FOLLOWER(S)

(LOW) TASK BEHAVIOR (HIGH)

RE

LA

TIO

NS

HIP

BE

HA

VIO

R

(

HIG

H)

Low Relationship and Low Task

High Task and Low

Relationship

High Relationship and Low Task

High Task and High

Relationship

HIGH MODERATE LOW

Mat

ure

Imm

atur

e

Success of Farmer Groups…Success of Farmer Groups…Recognition it gets from various bodiesRecognition it gets from various bodiesFocus on income generating activitiesFocus on income generating activitiesAbilities of membersAbilities of membersVisible benefits to its membersVisible benefits to its membersExtension officials supportExtension officials supportParticipatory approachesParticipatory approachesLinkages with people and organizationsLinkages with people and organizationsTie up with other development Tie up with other development programmesprogrammesInter group linkagesInter group linkages Capacity building of farmer groupsCapacity building of farmer groups

FARMER FARMER ORGANISATIONSORGANISATIONS

Types of Types of Farmer OrganizationsFarmer Organizations

Community based, resource oriented Community based, resource oriented farmer organizationfarmer organization

Commodity based, market oriented farmer Commodity based, market oriented farmer organizationorganization

Roles of Roles of Farmer organizationsFarmer organizations

Representational roleRepresentational role

Technology roleTechnology role

Service roleService role

Developing a Farmer organizationDeveloping a Farmer organization Study the village situation in detailStudy the village situation in detail Identify issues and problems to build a farmer Identify issues and problems to build a farmer

organizationorganization Locate potential leaders in the communityLocate potential leaders in the community Seed the concept of farmer organization among themSeed the concept of farmer organization among them Sow the cooperation of various agencies working with Sow the cooperation of various agencies working with

similar objectivessimilar objectives Conduct community meetings through local leadersConduct community meetings through local leaders Make the purpose of the organization very clearMake the purpose of the organization very clear Nominate core group leaders to develop the farmer Nominate core group leaders to develop the farmer

organizationorganization Develop an organizational structure Develop an organizational structure Provide action learning situation to develop the Provide action learning situation to develop the

management of farmer organizationmanagement of farmer organization Prepare plan of action using participatory action Prepare plan of action using participatory action

management cyclemanagement cycle Implement the plan of actionImplement the plan of action Monitor and evaluate the farmer organization's progressMonitor and evaluate the farmer organization's progress

Farmers may be organized atFarmers may be organized at Four levels Four levels

Farmers Interest Groups ( FIGs )Farmers Interest Groups ( FIGs )

Sectoral Farmers Association ( SFA )Sectoral Farmers Association ( SFA )

District Farmers Forum ( DFF )District Farmers Forum ( DFF )

State Farmers Federation ( SFF )State Farmers Federation ( SFF )

Role of Role of

Extension ProfessionalsExtension Professionals……

Mobilization and organization roleMobilization and organization role

Capacity building roleCapacity building role

Problem solving and educating roleProblem solving and educating role

Business support provider roleBusiness support provider role

Examples of Group led extension in IndiaExamples of Group led extension in India

KERALAKERALA initiated group approach to initiated group approach to extension for RICE farming in 1989 extension for RICE farming in 1989 and subsequently extended to other and subsequently extended to other cropscrops

Formation of community groups to Formation of community groups to improve productivity and reduce cost improve productivity and reduce cost of cultivationof cultivation

Examples…Examples…

RAJASTHANRAJASTHAN adopted the group adopted the group approach to extension in 1992 and approach to extension in 1992 and currently VEO visits village and impart currently VEO visits village and impart training to training to kisan mandalkisan mandal farmers once farmers once in a fortnightin a fortnight

Examples…Examples…

In In ANDHRA PRADESHANDHRA PRADESH, Farmers , Farmers Clubs ( RMGs ) are formed to Clubs ( RMGs ) are formed to propagate developmental Schemes propagate developmental Schemes and facilitate TOT and facilitate TOT

Govt provides Rs 1500 to each club Govt provides Rs 1500 to each club for its formationfor its formation

Two lakh clubs Two lakh clubs

RMGs in A.P – Main ObjectivesRMGs in A.P – Main Objectives To function as interface between extension system To function as interface between extension system

and farmers for TOT and sharing of market and farmers for TOT and sharing of market informationinformation

To become self reliant for carrying out To become self reliant for carrying out developmental activities through their own developmental activities through their own resources and efforts; and also for developing resources and efforts; and also for developing linkages with credit institutions as well as other linkages with credit institutions as well as other developmental departmentsdevelopmental departments

To interact and exchange ideas on scientific To interact and exchange ideas on scientific agricultureagriculture

To take up, in addition to social activities, various To take up, in addition to social activities, various dev. activities like soil testing camps, animal health dev. activities like soil testing camps, animal health camps etccamps etc

To formulate an optimal resource based and To formulate an optimal resource based and market driven farmer strategy market driven farmer strategy

Functioning of RMGsFunctioning of RMGs A group of 15 farmers- Start with a A group of 15 farmers- Start with a

unique name unique name Only one member from a familyOnly one member from a family Thrift and credit on the lines of SHGsThrift and credit on the lines of SHGs Monthly thrift – Rs.50/- per month.Monthly thrift – Rs.50/- per month. Rs.2500/- from government to take Rs.2500/- from government to take

care of capacity building and matching care of capacity building and matching grant of Rs.15,000/- per group to grant of Rs.15,000/- per group to mature RMGsmature RMGs..

Abhyudaya Karshak Parishat, Abhyudaya Karshak Parishat, Mukkamala, EG, A.PMukkamala, EG, A.P

Estd in 1989Estd in 1989 Trainings on Paddy and CoconutTrainings on Paddy and Coconut Emphasis on IPM and INMEmphasis on IPM and INM Farmer to farmer extensionFarmer to farmer extension Productivity Productivity Field visits Field visits

Examples…Examples…

HIMACHAL PRADESHHIMACHAL PRADESH is forming is forming Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) to Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) to implement many schemesimplement many schemes

The Central Sector Scheme on The Central Sector Scheme on Women in Agriculture (CSSWA) is Women in Agriculture (CSSWA) is being implemented through women being implemented through women SHGs promoted through this SHGs promoted through this programmeprogramme

Examples…Examples…

NABARD, UttarakhandNABARD, Uttarakhand formed SHGs of formed SHGs of micro-financing, access to credit and micro-financing, access to credit and strengthen their negotiation power strengthen their negotiation power through collective marketingthrough collective marketing

Emerged as Vegetable and Fruit Emerged as Vegetable and Fruit Promotion in uttarakhandPromotion in uttarakhand

Examples…Examples… Cashew Ratna inCashew Ratna in MAHARASHTRAMAHARASHTRA : :

Cashew growers in Ratnagiri formed Cashew growers in Ratnagiri formed into groups and marketed cashew into groups and marketed cashew under the name of under the name of Cashew RatnaCashew Ratna and and reaped benefits reaped benefits

Commodity Based Groups – Block Commodity Based Groups – Block Level Processors Group – District level Level Processors Group – District level

Grading, Packing, MarketingGrading, Packing, Marketing

ProcessorsGroup

1 2 3 4

Block Level Processors Group

District Level Cp & Farmer Orgn.

Common Godown•Grading •Packing

•Further grading •Packing •Marketing

State :MaharashtraDistrict :Ratnagiri

CASHEW RATNA

Commodity Based Groups

Efficiency of Group approach Efficiency of Group approach over Individual approachover Individual approach

ApproachApproach Participation Participation in extension in extension activities of activities of KVK ( % )KVK ( % )

Participation Participation in decision in decision making making

( % )( % )

Technology Technology adoption adoption by the by the farmersfarmers

Spread of Spread of technologytechnology

Extent of Extent of feedbackfeedback

NetworkingNetworking

IndividualIndividual 15-2015-20 1-21-2 slowslow slowslow somesome poorpoor

GroupGroup 100100 90-10090-100 fastfast fastfast 70-80%70-80% effectiveeffective

Das P DDG ICAR Indian farming November 2002

Skills required for Farmer groupsSkills required for Farmer groups

S. NoS. No AreaArea Skill / Skill / Competencies Competencies to be developedto be developed

Ways and Ways and Means of Means of developing developing skillskill

Institutions Institutions who can who can helphelp

11 TechnicalTechnical

22 ManagerialManagerial

33 Any otherAny other

Initiatives to be taken to organize Initiatives to be taken to organize farmers in groupsfarmers in groups

Policy decision to contact farmers in groups Policy decision to contact farmers in groups instead of individual contactsinstead of individual contacts

Groups should be demand drivenGroups should be demand driven Group formation could be taken up where some Group formation could be taken up where some

NGOs / societies are workingNGOs / societies are working Disseminate the message about the advantages Disseminate the message about the advantages

of group formationof group formation Size of the group should be kept smallSize of the group should be kept small Demonstrate the process of group formation by Demonstrate the process of group formation by

organizing visits of group of farmers to already organizing visits of group of farmers to already developed active farmers groups in nearby areasdeveloped active farmers groups in nearby areas

Conclusions…Conclusions…

Sustainable groups and organizations are must for Sustainable groups and organizations are must for over all development of farmersover all development of farmers

Extension strategies should involve groupsExtension strategies should involve groups Public, Private extension agencies and NGOs should Public, Private extension agencies and NGOs should

involve farmer groupsinvolve farmer groups Govt departments should play a supporting role in Govt departments should play a supporting role in

formation and management of farmer groupsformation and management of farmer groups Extension functionaries should have skills of Extension functionaries should have skills of

facilitationfacilitation