Research-extension linkage in a State College of Agriculture

Date

5-1995

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the research and extension units of the Don Severino Agricultural College (DSAC) in Indang Cavite, using the criteria adopted by the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR). Specifically, it aimed to: determine the contextual factors that may have constrained or influenced the Research Center to have a link with the extension unit of DSAC, analyze the extent of linkage between researchers and farmers; analyze the extent of linkage between the extension workers and farmers find out how effectively the extension unit had democratized S & T in the service area; determine the relationship between the contextual factors such as political, technical, and organizational and management factors, and the extent of linkage between research and extension determine the relationship between the extent of linkage between research and extension democratization of S & T as done by these two units determine the relationship between the extent of linkage between extension and farmers and democratization of S & T as done by the extension unit alone; and recommend an appropriate linkage mechanism for the research and extension units of DSAC.

Eighteen researchers, 12 extension workers and 110 farmers were personally interviewed to gather data for the study. Records and office files were also reviewed and analyzed. Frequency counts, means, ranges and percentages were used to describe the respondents' personal and work-related characteristics and to summarize the data. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to determine the relationship between the extent of linkage and certain variables.

Results of the study revealed that the extent of linkage between research and extension was weak although contextual factors, namely: political, technical and organization and management factors were already in place in the Research Center. This was partly attributed to the very weak systems integration between the research and extension units of the college.

Systems integration between research and extension was very weak as indicated by the moderate amount of knowledge and information shared or exchanged between them; the neither favorable nor unfavorable attitude toward each other; the uncommon clients of the two units and the very few joint programs or projects implemented by them.

The extent of linkage between the research and extension units of DSAC was also found to be weak because the Research Center ranked "low" in availability as it had not produced any technology and had improved only about eight technologies in a span of 17 years. Likewise, the same technologies were rated irrelevant and unresponsive to the resource-poor farmers in the Barangay Demonstration Laboratories (BDLs) of DSAC.

Results of the study also revealed that no link exists between the researchers and the farmer-cooperators in the BDLs, while the extent of link between extension workers and farmer-cooperators was found to be strong. This was supported by the other findings which show that client (extension workers and farmer-cooperators) system integration was also quite strong, and the Extension Services Project of DSAC ranked quite high in availability as it was able to disseminate 16 technologies to the farmers in the BDLs. The same technologies were rated as relevant although unresponsive to the needs and field problemsof the farmers in the BDLs.

That client (extension workers and farmers) systems integration was found to be quiet strong was supported by the other findings, namely: much knowledge and information were shared or exchanged between them; and they have a number of joint projects and programs in the BDLs.

Correlation analysis showed that contextual factors, namely: political, technical and organization and management factors were not related to extent of linkage between the research and extension units of DSAC, nor was extent of linkage between them related to democratization of science and technology also as done by them, On the contrary, the extent of linkage between extension workers and farmers was found to be related to democratization of S & T as done by the Extension Unit alone and the relationship was found to be highly significant.

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Development Communication

College

Graduate School (GS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Teresa H. Stuart

Committee Member

Pura T Depositario, Willie C. Depositario, Alexander G. Flor

Language

English

LC Subject

Research, Agricultural extension work--Research, Don Severino Agricultural College

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 996 1995 D46 I42

Notes

Doctor of Philosophy (Development Communication)

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