China Agricultural Extension System

Presented by:Shamli Rana2015HS12M

China is a country with a large population and less arable land. With only seven percent of the world’s cultivated land, China has to feed one-fifth of the world’s population. Chinese agriculture occupies an important position in the world.Total geographical area- 1207 m haTotal population- 1.3 billionTotal cultivated area- 321 million acresPopulation depend on agriculture- 50 per centShare of agriculture to GDP- 20 per centCultivated land availability -1 acre per agricultural worker.Total area under irrigation-30 per cent

History• The first extension station was established in 1924 in Wujiang,The

County, Anhui Province, followed by the establishment of an agricultural research station.

• In 1929,”Regulation of Agro extension”, which was the first law of extension, was enacted in the form of the Central Agro-extension. During the 1950s, after the People Republic of China came into being, the agricultural technology extension (ATE) system was well set up. County-level demonstration farms, manned by Mutual Help Group model laborers and technicians and ATE stations were established.

With the end of Cultural Revolution in the late 1970s, the commune system also collapsed and the government started reforming its agricultural extension services.

Presently, the public ATE system of china functions at five administrative levels, i.e. national, provincial, city, county and township. The county and township levels constitute the basis of this grassroots extension system.The Enhancement of Agricultural Extension System Project that was implemented from 1999 to 2004 in Zigong City of the Sichuan Province may be called an example of cooperation between Japan and China.

Public InstitutionsEXTENSION PROVIDERS

The national level extension institution is the National Agricultural Technology Extension and Service Center (NATESC).

After that a large number of Agricultural Technology Extension and Services Centers(ATESCs) are located at each administrative level i.e. provincial, city/prefectural, county and township, which cover four technical are namely crops, livestock, aquaculture and agriculture and agricultural machinery. The ATE system performs the following functions:

• Provision of public service• Supporting science and technology• Improving farmer’s capability• Functioning as a bridge between the government and the farmers

• The government launched the “Golden Agricultural Program” in 1994 under which substantial progress has been made in delivering information to the farming population.

NON-PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS:There are no extension advisory services offered by

the private sector.

Six generations of China’s agricultural extension system

Establishment of local extension system (1949–1957) In the 1950s, many policies are made to increase

agricultural production, and expand agricultural extension services.

In 1952, according to the communist party of China CPC’s, ministry of agriculture proposed to establish a technology extension network which centers on farm, which is based on mutual aid group and relies on technicians.

• In 1953, ministry of agriculture released the Plan on Agricultural Extension and Suggestions on Expanding Agricultural Institutes and Intensifying Technology Support. These two documents require building extension station at the district level.

• In 1954, Regulations for Agricultural Technology Extension Station are made to define the task, management, rules, funding, equipment, etc. of extension stations.

• In 1957, local agricultural extension stations, animal husbandry and veterinary workstations and Fishery Technology Extension Stations are built nationwide.

“Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CAAS)”

• Located at Beijing, china.• Established in 1957.• Representing china’s most important national agricultural research organization.• Affiliated to Ministry of Agriculture of People’s Republic of China.CAAS has about 1000 staff members and 38 research institutions located across 17

different provinces, national municipalities and the autonomous regions.CAAS plays an important role in solving the science and technology issues with

general, directional and critical importance in China’s agricultural and rural development as well as in training high level agricultural research professionals and unfolding international exchange and cooperation in agricultural science and technology.

Training options for extension professionals

– Pre-service education in extension may be obtained at any of agricultural academic institutions in China. These institutions offer degree programs in various agricultural disciplines.

1. China Agricultural University

•Established in 1905•Comprises 18 colleges and schools.

2. Shanxi Agricultural University

•Located in rural town of Taigu.•It was founded in 1907.

3. Nanjing Agricultural University

• One of the older agricultural university established in 1902.

• Located in Nanjing, China.• It has established cooperation

relationship with Cornell University, USA , since 1980s.

4. Southwest Agricultural University

• Located in Chongqing.• Was founded in 1950.

• Located in Yangling, established in 1934.

5.Northwest Agricultural & Forestry university

6. Tianjin Agricultural University• Located in Tianjin• Founded in 1976.

7. Shenyang Agricultural University• Established in

1952.• Located in

Shenyang.

International LinkagesChina-CGIAR partnershipChina has been collaborating with CGIAR centers since the early 1970s, and

become a CGIAR member in 1984.The CGIAR works through the Chinese Academy of Agricultural

Sciences(CAAS), the research arm of the Ministry of Agriculture. Seven CGIAR centers including, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), International Potato Center (CIP), the International Food Policy Research Institute(IFRI),the International Livestock Research Institute(ILRI), International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), International Rice Research Institute(IRRI), and International Water Management Institute(IWMI), maintain regional offices in China.

• Over 50 Chinese Institutions have collaborated closely with CGIAR Centers. More than 3,400 Chinese scientists have received training at CGIAR Centers, many of whom are now occupying leadership positions throughout the CGIAR and at Chinese organizations.

• China’s partnership with CGIAR Centers focuses on major food crops (maize, potatoes, rice and wheat), land and water management, livestock, forestry, fisheries and food policy. And as a result of this partnership, China has bred more than 260 crop varieties containing genetic material from CGIAR Centers.

Indian agricultural extension system

• The first planned attempt started with the launching of Community Development Programme in 1952, followed by the National Extension Service in 1953.

These programs were able to educate responsive farmers to take up improved methods of farming across the country.

The other important Area-Based Special Programmes were;- Intensive Agricultural District Programme (IADP, 1960), Intensive Agriculture Area Programme (IAAP, 1964) High Yielding Varieties Programme (HYVP, 1966) Farmers Training Centers (1967) to train farmers on high yielding varieties and

improved methods of farming to back up the above programs

.

• The Cumulative effect of these programs resulted in increased productivity, which made way to usher in ‘Green Revolution' in Indian agriculture during late 1970s.

• These programs widened gap between resource rich and resource poor farmers. In order to enable resource poor farmers to take benefit of improved farm technology, many client-based programs were introduced. The most important ones being:-

• Small Farmers Development Agency (SFDA, 1969),• Marginal Farmers and Agricultural Labourers Programme (MFAL, 1969)• District Rural Development Agency/Society (DRDA, 1976)• Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP, 1978)• Lab to Land Programme sponsored by ICAR (LLP, 1979).

By the middle of 1980s it was observed that extension services in the developing countries were suffering from a number of weaknesses, including the dissipation of extension workers’ energies on low priority tasks; the lack of single as well as clear line of command; and low level of agricultural knowledge and skill among field level functionaries. As a means of reforming and strengthening the extension service, a reorganized agricultural extension system known as ‘Training and Visit’ (T & V) system was introduced in the country.

Training and Visit System• This system was introduced in India in 1974 with

the World Bank assistance.• The important features of T & V system are : (1)

Professionalism, (2) Single line of command, (3) Concentration of efforts, (4)Time-bound work, (5) Field and farmer orientation, (6) Regular and continuous training and (7) Linkage with research.