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The word ‘Extension’ is derived from the Latin roots in which ‘tensio’ meaning ‘stretching and ‘ex’ meaning ‘out’. Thus the term ‘Extension Education’ means that type of education which is ‘stretched out’ into the villages and fields beyond the limits of the schools and colleges to which the formal type of education is normally confined.
The term Extension Education was first coined in the year 1873 by Cambridge University in England. The present form of Agricultural extension was primarily stated in USA in 1908, where Rusewelt, then the President of America appointed a Country Life Commission to find out the reasons for migration of people from rural areas to urban area so the their migration can be stopped by engaging them in agriculture and rural development activities. In India extension primarily started with Gurgaon project which was organized by F.L. Brayne in 1920.
The system of extension has come into existence when a wide gap between research work and farmer’s knowledge and practice was observed which ultimately resulted in low productivity and production. In this context an agency to bridge the gap between the research work, and farmers and people at large, to play the dual role of carrying out the results of research to people and problems of people to research station is felt essential.
Why Extension? In reality it is seen that what was applicable in the past is outdated at present and likewise it can be said that techniques and methods prevalent at present cannot be applied in future. The nature of problem is changing day by day, therefore, in order to scientifically tackle new problems, it is necessary that there should be such an institution, which should act as a bridge between scientists and farmers; it should introduce new techniques to the farmers and address the problems of farmers to the scientists.
Research Centre <-><-> Extension Personnel<-><-> Problems of People Such an institution, which mediates between farmers and scientists was established and is called “Extension system”. The people working in this institution are called “Extension personnel”.
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