Characteristics of common communication approach applied in Nepal

1. Sectoral Approach:

• Set of specialized activity .
• It deals only one sector for example: Jute, tobacco, sugarcane, tea/coffee.
• Regular and scheduled.
• Is an organized coherent combination of extension strategies and methods which facilitate the
• production of one specify crop.
• Individual farmer has direct contact with the board.

Advantages

1. Clear goal and target
2. Simple organizational model
3. Easy training and extension
4. Easy to handle the problem
5. Specialized knowledge
6. Coordination of inputs and credit very easy
7. Combination of service and business organization

Disadvantage

1. Problem of integration in administration
2. Duplication may occur
3. Often coercive by using threats and force measure
4. Farmers may not take into account
5. Unbalance growth
6. Dependency on price fluctuation
7. Foreign influence

2. Conventional approach:

• Old and traditional approach of extension based on concept of diffusion.
• In this approach technology is not generated but feedback is provided on the result of mini-kit demonstration.
• Extension activities are carried out by fields extension worker

Advantage

1. Farm as a integral unit
2. Subsistence and cash crops
3. More than one crops
4. Greater flexibility
5. Broad impact
6. Integration of administration
7. Adoption by persuasion and motivation
8. New package of practice for technical message

Disadvantage

1. Low extension intensity
2. Progressive farmer only
3. Insufficient knowledge
4. Low economic incentive
5. Low credit and inputs

3. Integrated Approach:

• Multi-sectoral program integrated and program are supposed to be integrated.
• The purpose was to overcome stagnation and ease social problem among traditional farmers in a
• particular region by concentrated and comprehensive efforts.
• The approach is based on the assumption that a critical minimum effort is needed to make a noticeable impact in a relatively short period focus on improving extension service, supply credit and marketing.

Advantage

1. High extension due to high staff client ratio
2. Different target group
3. Specific need
4. Integration of progressive farmer in strategy
5. Concentration of complementary efforts (eg. Irrigation)
6. Relatively interdependent
7. Less financial problem in development work

Disadvantage

1. Need large number of staff
2. High level of technological knowledge
3. High cost of foreign aid
4. Problem of adjustment in administrative structure and development
5. Limited management capacity

4. Structural transformation approach:

• Changing the structure of development process.
• The approach focuses primarily on institutional pluralism, privatization and decentralization
• of extension services.

Advantage

1. Long term planning resources
2. Farmers participation
3. Integration of total population
4. Development of democratic organization
5. Development of self-help ideology

Disadvantage

1. Need for larger number of staff in different discipline
2. Strong position of beaurocracy
3. Requires high motivation and moral
4. Resistance to traditional power
5. Problem of coordination