Institution of agricultural extension in the new socio-economic order: some issues and hypotheses

Abstract

This paper has presented an economist s perspective to the institution of agricultural extension and raised some issues that have recently assumed importance. Focusing on three main components of the extension system the providers, the people and the price, the paper has argued that there is enough room for private sector participation in delivery of these services. While the information with strong public good component will need to be supplied by the public sector, there are sufficient opportunities where private sector can play a complementing role. In addition, a number of other innovative models of service delivery have emerged across the world in the recent past which need to be examined in detail.