The Front Line
Extension
Worker Research











 An important aspect of your professionalism is that, through
 Subject Matter
 Specialists

 Front-line
 Extension
 Staff

 Farmers




 An important aspect of your professionalism is that, through
 regular training sessions, you are in close touch with relevant
 scientific developments and research. It is only in this way that
 specific recommendations can be formulated which will be useful to
 farmers in their specific situations. You must have the ability to
 identify production constraints in the field and, in association with
 your colleagues, develop appropriate measures to counter them.
 When this begins to happen, then you and your service build
 credibility for yourselves in the eyes of the farmers.
 There may be occasions when nearby farmers can be invited to view
 research results at a laboratory or other experimental establishment.
 Also, there may be times when it is appropriate and convenient to
 invite a researcher to a Farmers' Training Centre or some other
 place to meet with a group of farmers. Most generally, however, the
 feedback or flow of information between farmers and researchers
 must pass through the front-line extension staff and Subject
 Matter Specialists (SMS's).

 Concentration of Effort
 Effective T&V ensures a concentration of effort. All extension staff
 carry out specific duties that complement and support the activities
 of staff at other levels. You yourself will be working only on
 agricultural-related concerns, only on those crops and practices
 that are relevant to a particular season in your locality. You will be
 working primarily-though not exclusively-through a small
 number of contact farmers who are experienced, skilled and re-
 spected enough to be taken as a model by other farmers.


Chapter 2