Blogs Policy Issues in Extension

BLOG-27: Extensionpedia: A mechanism for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of National Extension Discourse

In his previous blog “it is time to influence the 13th Plan” Shri Suresh Kumar discussed the elaborate policy framework behind the national planning process in India and the need to use the plan document as a vehicle and platform for influencing the national policies. In this blog, he further elaborates this idea and suggests the importance of having an “Extensionpedia” to guide the extension discourse in more useful and policy relevant ways.

Shri Suresh Kumar, former Additional Chief Secretary & Principal Secretary (Agriculture), Government of Maharashtra acted as the Chairman of the 12th Plan “Working Group on Agricultural Extension for Agriculture and Allied Sectors” constituted by the Planning Commission. (sureshkumar.goodgovern@gmail.com)

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Leave a Reply to P N Mathur Cancel reply

  • A very informative and thought provoking article flagging the issues that needs to be addressed urgently besides throwing up some new and interesting ideas and terminology for professional and intellectual discourse. All the components of the so called extension ecosystem needs to complement at each level and synergise. Extension should be treated as a steering wheel rather than a spare wheel in our efforts to enhance agriculture productivity in the country

  • Thank you for your thoughtful and comprehensive blog. I really admire your vision. Blog ideas and Box No 1 (Extension Eco-System) strikingly indicates richness of our extension discourse and at the end of the day the huge intellectual resources goes undocumented and un/underutilized. What a biggest national wastage of resources?. The Community of Practices (CoPs) in various thematic areas and sub – themes is a wonderful idea. I sincerely believe that the blog on Extensionpedia is an inspiration to many extension professionals and students. I hope, we, the extension stakeholders together take forward your ideas into action

  • I fully support the ideas given by Suresh Kumar Ji. He is a visionary. I had the pleasure of being associated with him on some of the professional groups. The MANAGE can play an important role in carrying forward the idea of Extensionpedia. Suresh Kumar Ji has already given a guideline for preparing the preliminary paper on this theme. It seems to be all inclusive. May be the role of research Institutes/SAUs in frontline extension and the role of frontline extension in research and technology development may further strengthen the paper and also help involve these two important systems

  • This is an interesting and informative blog.I take this opportunity to congratulate Suresh Kumarji for detailing the process of developing extensionpedia. Here, the main problem is who will bell the cat? The author has indicated that MANAGE will be the right institution to anchor the process. Can MANAGE rise to the occasion and take up this responsibility? To start with, I suggest that 5 or 6 themes may be selected on priority basis and the process initiated. A capable extension scientist may be identified to prepare the theme paper, which can be the first draft. This can be revised and refined based on responses from others/ consultations, etc. In my opinion, Research in Extension, Emerging skill sets for extension personnel and Climate change and extension should be given priority. An output of the deliberations on research in extension could be a list of researchable issues in extension, which could serve as a guide for young researchers. Let us hope that his idea will be translated into action at the earliest. Once again, thank you Suresh Kumarji for your enlightened vision

  • A very practical blog, which not only tells the problems, but shows the way-what needs to be done, actionable points clearly brought out. Some new terms, little heard so far-EXTENSION ECOSYSTEM & EXTENSIONPEDIA too have been coined. The point has been once again reinterated- Very little research happens in extension and that is mostly based on MSc and PhD research. Many of these have little policy relevance and the recommendations of these studies are not easily accessible for decision makers-absolutely right nobody can deny! Can we do something after reading this thought provoking blog from a very experienced person?