Govinda Prasad Sharma¹, Janaki Prasad Khanal² and Lekh Nath Acharya³

Abstract

This paper attempts to review the agriculture extension service and knowledge dissemination System in Nepal. Identify changing environment for extension, scan the present scenario of extension and knowledge dissemination, illustrate government policy, gauge problems and dig out issues and recommend for improved extension and knowledge dissemination for Nepalese farmers in changed context. Public extension system has been found dominant over the past 6 decades. The frequently changing public extension organization lacks stability in the extension modality and is posed with problems and issues for its capacity to provide service and Knowledge in the changed context. The shifting emphasis towards commercialization, diversification, sustainable and inclusive development and changing business environment for agriculture at nation and global level demands review of existing extension system. The Government policy for extension has not just to identify the pluralistic approach but should implement well by recognizing and utilizing the expertise of different service providers in the country. Majority of farmers charge public as well as private organization for not being effective and efficient and even in catering their need for solving their problems. This demands dynamism in the existing extension organization. Supply driven, inadequate physical facilities. wider command area, inadequate communication with farmers, poor motivation on the part of extension personnel, lack of clear cut job responsibility, technical competency and inadequate monitoring as well as evaluation have been identified as major problems in extension whereas extension service in diversities,  capacity enhancement of extension staff, duplication of command area among service providers, low service coverage, devolution of extension service emerging global concerns in extension, subsidy matter as well as implementation of NAES are major issues concerned. Similarly, timely dissemination, quality of expertise service, mobilization and utilization of concerned media, forum and approach has been reported as issues in knowledge dissemination. For greater effectiveness, institutional reform, clarification of strategic objective, empowerment of farmers, enhanced linkage among stakeholders and use of participatory and user friendly approaches along with enhanced IT is recommended.