The thesis investigates the extent to which
agricultural extension methods as used in the developed
countries can be applied to the countries in Southeast Asia
with particular reference to Thailand. The working hypothesis
is that the peculiar conditions of agriculture in the underdeveloped
countries restricts the total transfer of extension
methods from the developed regions to the underdeveloped
regions of the world.
The historical development of agricultural extension
work in the developed countries of Europe and North America is
traced, and the general theory and methods of agricultural
extension are explored. Then the agricultural problems of
Southeast Asia are studied, with a view to identifying the
factors which will affect the agricultural extension work in
that region.
It is concluded that the method of personal contact
which is effectively used in the developed countries can be
the main method for persuading farmers in Southeast Asia to
accept improved techniques and training them to apply these
methods efficiently. However, the personal contact method
involves costly personnel, transportation and equipment. The
meeting and demonstration methods tend to be effective also.
Mass methods of agricultural extension including
radios, newsprint, magazines and circular letters would not be
effective,
since few farmers can read and a still smaller
number have radios. However, posters and farm exhibits are
two types of mass media which would stimulate a great deal
of interest on the part of the rural population.
Ideally, methods should be diversified. Meetings,
demonstrations, discussions, films and slides can be used
to complement each other. Their combination for best results
varies with local conditions.
In Thailand, as in any other underdeveloped country,
a complete agricultural extension program is required. This
would necessitate a greater number of agricultural extension
workers than the country now has and therefore a training
program for extension personnel is in urgent demand.
The study also deals in some detail with the case
of Thailand and conclusions are drawn for that country. To
the extent that Thailand is representative of Southeast Asia,
then conclusions can be generalized for the region. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UBC/oai:circle.library.ubc.ca:2429/42413 |
| Date | January 1963 |
| Creators | Jeerapandh, Somsala |
| Publisher | University of British Columbia |
| Source Sets | University of British Columbia |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis/Dissertation |
| Rights | For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use. |
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