Principles and Techniques of Veterinary and AH Extension

Extension Teaching Methods - Individual Contacts

INDIVIDUAL CONTACT METHODS

Farm and home visit

• It is direct contact by the extension worker with the farmer or the members of his family at his home or on his farm for a specific purpose.

• This is used,
  • To discus problems of individuals or villagers.
  • To find out problems which he is not aware.
  • To teach skills
  • To obtain or give information
  • To gain confidence of the farmers
    • Eg. Cattle shed improvement

• Farmers call or office call
  • It is a call made by a farmer on the extension worker at his office for obtaining information or getting assistance or for developing acquaintance with him.
    • To promote close contact with farmer
    • To build up interest of individuals
    • To discus problems in greater details
    • To arrange supplies and services.
    • To bring about contact between farmers and other agencies.
      • Eg. Starting of poultry farm, construction of cattle sheds.
• Personal letters
  • It is a personal and individual letter written by the extension worker to a farmer in connection with the extension work.
    • To answer enquiries
    • To seek the farmers co operation
      • Eg. To inform about the vaccination time and date.
• Result demonstration
  • It is a method of teaching, design to show the value or worth of the improved practice employed in the field. The best type of demonstration is the comparison of two situations in which they  differ only in one variable. The possible difference in the results can easily be attributed to the effect of that one variable. It rquires a substantial period of time.
  • eg. Effect of two types of cattle feed (existing and new feed) on milk production.

• Purpose
  • To show the utility and feasibility/worth of a practice / technology.
  • To establish the conviction on the part of the farmer.
• Principles underlying in this method
  • Seeing is believing
  • • Milk yield of a cow 50 lit/day.
    • Better cattle feed etc.