Farmers’ Group Technique : An Efficient Tool for Agricultural Technology Transfer and Adoption

Abstract

A good extension work means talking with farmers, working with farmers, learning from farmers and suggesting new technologies to farmers. There is much to be gained by combining indigenous knowledge with science. The main goal of Agricultural Extension work is to assist farmers to make better use of resources at their disposal toward the improvement of their farm practices. For such improvement to be permanent, farmers’ groups have important role to play. No wonder why extension workers are encouraged to work with them where they exist and assist in their establishment where they are not found. Farmer group are increasingly being acknowledged as essential building block for rural development. They offer the rural poor an opportunity to collectively develop their skills, mobilize resources and influence the nature and direction of development activities in order to improve production, income and hence their livelihood. As we know that working with farmers’ groups offers agencies and extension workers an opportunity to efficiently and effectively utilize limited resources to reach a larger audience as compared to working with individuals. Different reasons why people join group, what benefit do they gain, why extension workers needs farmers group, how to strengthen farmers group, classification of farmers group, group size, Type of group were thoroughly discussed and role of farmer group in promoting agricultural innovation were also highlighted.