Core Skills and Competencies for Inclusion in the Curriculum for Effective Performance of Extension Professionals

Abstract

Changing situations and developments in agriculture in the 21st century demands extension workers to be equipped with a diverse set of competencies. Extension workers’ ability to adapt, communicate effectively and combine technical expertise with participatory approaches can significantly influence their job performance and ultimately, contribute to the growth and sustainability of the agriculture industry. Hence, an attempt has been made to know the level of need of core skills and competencies required for extension professionals to perform their job effectively. A scale was developed to measure the level of need of the skills and competencies thatan agricultural extension professional requires to perform their tasks. Twelve broad areas of skills and competencies required for agricultural extension professionals were identified and grouped. Professionals presently working in Karnataka State Department of Agriculture, Karnataka State Department of Horticulture and Coffee Board are considered as respondents. The results revealed that soft skills were ranked first, followed by entrepreneurship development skills and communication skills. Planning and designing need based programs, building teamwork skills, agricultural value chain extension, use of modern communication methods and AV aids, use of computer applications, monitoring and evaluation of extension programs, designing training programs, problem solving skills, knowledge on subject matter concepts, motivating farmers, innovativeness and stress management are the individual skills ranked first respectively on the listed twelve broad areas of skills and competencies. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that equipping extension workers with the necessary skills during their undergraduate and postgraduate education is crucial to ensure they are well-prepared to meet the evolving demands of the agriculture industry. By reorienting and enhancing the curriculum, agricultural universities and institutions can play a significant role in developing competent extension professionals.