1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of agricultural extension services?
a) To provide financial aid to farmers
b) To promote government agricultural policies
c) To disseminate knowledge and technology to improve agricultural practices
d) To enforce agricultural laws and regulations
Answer: c) To disseminate knowledge and technology to improve agricultural practices
Explanation: Agricultural extension services aim to improve farming practices, productivity, and livelihoods by disseminating knowledge, information, and technological innovations to farmers.
2. In the context of agricultural extension, the “diffusion of innovation” theory was primarily developed by:
a) Everet M. Rogers
b) William McKinley
c) Charles Darwin
d) G. L. Hearn
Answer: a) Everet M. Rogers
Explanation: Everet M. Rogers developed the “Diffusion of Innovation” theory, which explains how, why, and at what rate new ideas and technology spread among farmers and other members of a society.
3. Which of the following is NOT a key principle of the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) approach in agriculture extension?
a) Empowerment of local farmers
b) Top-down decision-making processes
c) Active involvement of the community in planning and decision-making
d) Emphasis on indigenous knowledge and local resources
Answer: b) Top-down decision-making processes
Explanation: PRA emphasizes bottom-up, participatory decision-making where the community is involved in planning and problem-solving. It does not focus on top-down approaches.
4. Which of the following extension methods is most likely to be used in a situation where a farmer requires detailed, technical advice?
a) Group discussion
b) Radio programs
c) One-on-one contact or personalized extension visits
d) Demonstration plots
Answer: c) One-on-one contact or personalized extension visits
Explanation: Personalized extension visits are ideal for providing detailed and technical advice tailored to the specific needs of the farmer.
5. In agricultural extension, the term “knowledge gap” refers to:
a) The difference in farming techniques used by wealthy vs. poor farmers
b) The difference between what farmers know and what they need to know to improve productivity
c) The availability of resources for farmers to adopt new technology
d) The difference in weather patterns between farming regions
Answer: b) The difference between what farmers know and what they need to know to improve productivity
Explanation: A knowledge gap occurs when there is a difference between the current knowledge of farmers and the knowledge required for adopting improved practices that increase productivity.
6. What is the primary characteristic of “farmer-to-farmer extension” as an extension method?
a) It involves technical experts teaching farmers through classroom-based learning.
b) It focuses on peer-to-peer learning where farmers share knowledge with each other.
c) It primarily uses radio and television programs to communicate agricultural messages.
d) It relies heavily on the use of printed materials like pamphlets and books.
Answer: b) It focuses on peer-to-peer learning where farmers share knowledge with each other.
Explanation: Farmer-to-farmer extension emphasizes peer-to-peer learning, where farmers share their knowledge, experiences, and solutions with fellow farmers to improve practices and adopt new technologies.
7. Which of the following is considered a challenge in agricultural extension work in developing countries?
a) Limited access to information technologies
b) High literacy rates among farmers
c) Excessive government support for extension services
d) Overreliance on international agricultural research
Answer: a) Limited access to information technologies
Explanation: In many developing countries, farmers often face challenges in accessing modern information technologies, which can hinder the effectiveness of extension services and the spread of knowledge.
8. Which of the following is a key objective of the “Training and Visit” (T&V) system of extension?
a) To train farmers in a classroom setting
b) To ensure a continuous, regular visit to farmers by extension agents
c) To focus primarily on demonstration plots and visual aids
d) To establish extension centers in every village
Answer: b) To ensure a continuous, regular visit to farmers by extension agents
Explanation: The Training and Visit (T&V) system is designed to provide regular visits to farmers by trained extension agents to offer advice, training, and technology updates, ensuring consistent communication and learning.
9. What is the role of agricultural extension in promoting gender equality in farming communities?
a) Extension services should focus only on male farmers to avoid confusion.
b) Extension services should target women and men equally to ensure access to resources and knowledge.
c) Extension services should exclude women from technical training to maintain family harmony.
d) Extension services should focus primarily on agricultural production and ignore gender issues.
Answer: b) Extension services should target women and men equally to ensure access to resources and knowledge.
Explanation: Promoting gender equality in extension work involves ensuring that both women and men have equal access to agricultural resources, training, and decision-making opportunities to enhance productivity and improve livelihoods.
10. Which of the following is the most common method of evaluating the effectiveness of agricultural extension programs?
a) Participatory assessment by farmers
b) Financial cost-benefit analysis
c) Pre and post-training knowledge tests
d) Random selection of farmers for feedback surveys
Answer: c) Pre and post-training knowledge tests
Explanation: The effectiveness of extension programs is often evaluated by measuring changes in farmers’ knowledge before and after training or exposure to new information and practices.
11. Which of the following is an important factor for the success of agricultural extension programs?
a) The extension agents’ high level of academic qualifications
b) The ability to reach a large number of farmers with generic information
c) The involvement and participation of farmers in the planning and implementation stages
d) The frequent use of mass media to deliver messages
Answer: c) The involvement and participation of farmers in the planning and implementation stages
Explanation: Agricultural extension programs are more successful when farmers are actively involved in the process, from planning to implementation, ensuring the solutions are contextually relevant and practical.
12. What is the main characteristic of a “participatory” approach in agricultural extension?
a) The extension agent acts as the sole source of knowledge and guidance for farmers.
b) Farmers are passive recipients of information transmitted by experts.
c) Farmers actively engage in decision-making, problem-solving, and solution development.
d) It focuses only on large-scale commercial farming solutions.
Answer: c) Farmers actively engage in decision-making, problem-solving, and solution development.
Explanation: The participatory approach emphasizes farmers’ involvement in identifying their own problems, developing solutions, and participating in the implementation process, promoting ownership and sustainability of practices.
13. In the context of agricultural extension, which of the following best describes the “diffusion of innovation” process?
a) The process by which farmers share their knowledge with each other.
b) The process by which agricultural innovations are adopted by farmers over time.
c) The process of formally training farmers in agricultural techniques.
d) The process of introducing genetically modified crops.
Answer: b) The process by which agricultural innovations are adopted by farmers over time.
Explanation: The diffusion of innovation process refers to how new agricultural technologies and practices spread and are adopted by farmers over time, with some adopting early and others later based on their attitudes toward innovation.
14. Which extension method involves farmers in demonstrations to illustrate new farming techniques or technologies?
a) Field days
b) Mass media campaigns
c) Farmer field schools
d) Demonstration plots
Answer: d) Demonstration plots
Explanation: Demonstration plots are used to showcase new technologies, practices, or crops, allowing farmers to see firsthand the benefits of new techniques in real-world conditions.
15. In the context of agricultural extension, “social capital” refers to:
a) The financial resources available to farmers for adopting new technologies
b) The knowledge and skills of extension agents and experts
c) The networks, relationships, and trust among community members that facilitate the spread of information and collaboration
d) The technological tools and infrastructure available for extension work
Answer: c) The networks, relationships, and trust among community members that facilitate the spread of information and collaboration
Explanation: Social capital refers to the networks, relationships, and trust within a community that can enhance the flow of information and support collaboration in the adoption of new practices.