Conducting a This chapter gives suggestion for making your demonstrations fit
 the principles of good extension work which are outlined at the
Demonstration beginning of this manual:

 establishing a three-way communication between re-
 search agents, front-line workers and farmers;
 starting from where the farmers are and building on
 their established knowledge and skills;
 utilizing the knowledge and skills of the farmers;
 addressing your demonstration to the practice of
 farming by employing active, problem-centred and
 discussion-based methods of communication.

 INVOLVING THE FARMERS
 Most field days begin with the almost ritualized speeches of
 welcome and the invitation to any dignitary who is present to make
 introductory remarks. Such contributions are important for main-
 taining the customary politeness and for establishing a sense of
 importance for the occasion. But, if this introductory phase goes on
 too long, it can defeat the very purpose of the activity. The prime
 purpose of a field day is education, not exhortation-or simply
 urging the farmers to change. Education will only happen if the
 concentration is on demonstration and practice.
 One way to arouse the interest of the farmers, and to establish their
 commitment to the topic of the day, is to begin your demonstration
 with a discussion session. You invite the farmers to express their
 views on the day's theme. To identify any particular problems they
 are facing and to suggest issues that they wish to have discussed.
 Imagine you are dealing with the raising and improving of a
 traditional storage basket. You might begin by asking the farmers
 about their usual methods of grain storage, identifying the typical
 range of problems that are experienced, inviting those who have
 already made improvements to say why they have done so and how
 successful they have been. Also, you make sure you ask the farmers
 what related topics they wish you to comment on.
 Such a session might go something like this:
 EW: "Today we are going to look at one method of
 improving storage structures for maize. First, let us
 think about the traditional methods of storage. This
 is the kind of basket that has been in use in this area


Chapter 8