Overview of Bangladesh’s Department of Agricultural Extension

Agricultural extension in Bangladesh has followed an evolutionary process of experimentation with components of several recognized extension approaches. The Training and Visit (T&V) Approach, which was established during the late seventies, formed the backbone of the Department of Agricultural Extension’s (DAEs) extension practices. To increase its effectiveness and efficiency DAE has sought to develop its own more pertinent approach to extension. DAE’s Revised Extension Approach (REA) specifically embraces the Department’s Mission within the context of the New Agricultural Extension Policy (NAEP). DAE is committed to a full role in implementing the NAEP. To clarify this commitment, and to ensure that all members of staff share the same vision, DAE has a mission statement:

The Department of Agricultural Extension’s mission is to provide efficient and effective needs based extension services to all categories of farmer, to enable them to optimize their use of resources, in order to promote sustainable agricultural and socio-economic development

To achieve this mission, DAE works in the context of the NAEP, and is committed to:

• · developing partnerships with research organizations and Government and Non-Government agencies involved in extension;
• · promoting the adoption of appropriate farming practices, through the use of appropriate extension methods, including working with groups;
• · identifying and using departmental human, financial, information and physical resources efficiently;
• · promoting environmentally friendly farming practices;
• · providing development opportunities for DAE personnel;
• · using participatory approaches with farmers in order to ensure the development of demand-driven extension programmes.

The REA has retained many of the primary elements of the T&V Approach, in combination with relevant aspects of their recognized extension approaches, and features developed locally with Bangladesh extension partners. The result is an approach to extension which is largely demand driven, reliant on client participation, based on working with groups, and integrated among different extension providers. Experience indicates that agricultural extension practices will continue to evolve. The REA is designed to continue to change in appropriate ways over time. It encourages flexibility and adaptation, incorporating the process of continuing change as an integral part of the extension approach. This is ensured through institutional partnerships with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the private sector, and other government sector extension providers, guaranteeing a constant flow of ideas and methodologies.

Source: Dr. Md. Sayeed Ali, Director General (personal communication)

 (There are several more publications by Paul Van Mele on work done in Bangladesh at http://agroinsight.com/agricultural-extension.php )