Cyber Extension

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Cyber Extension

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abdul qayyum

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CYBER EXTENSION

Introduction
The Rural Knowledge Centre is an agency established to assist people in the community in
accessing information required for sustained development. Over the years with advances in
technology, the process of communication has been improving. Modern communication
technology is capable of being adapted to rural conditions. It can allow more people to
participate in the community's developmental programs. This modern communication
process adopted by extension personnel is called “Cyber Extension”.
Cyber Extension is the term used to indicate the medium of communication. Previously
communication processes included three mediums of communication i.e. Audio, Visual, and
the combination of Audio visuals. With advances in communication technology today we
have a fourth medium through which Extension personnel can communicate and that is
Cyber Communication.

Definitions
According to Sharma (2005), Cyber extension can be defined as the “Extension over cyber-
space”. Cyber extension means “using the power of online networks, computer
communications, and digital interactive multimedia to facilitate dissemination of agricultural
technology”.
Cyber extension includes effective use of information and communication technology,
national and international information networks, the internet, expert systems, multimedia
learning systems, and computer-based training systems to improve information access to the
farmers, extension workers, research scientists, and extension managers.

Components
Each Rural Knowledge Centre is an e Extension Centre. It includes high-end multimedia
computers, digital cameras, printers and scanners and power supply which constitute the
physical infrastructure. The Extension Centre which is equipped to act as a cyber unit and is
managed by trained Extension personnel. This person/ team of personnel undertake all the
activities of the extension agency. They organise training programmes on a regular and
continuous basis and are also provided training to improve computer skills.
Some critical components of an E-extension centre are the seamless access to unbiased,
localized and research-based information and education. The e-centre can be responsive to
the needs of the people with whom extension programmes are conducted. Local and state-
level information is collected and converted into knowledge. It is capable of measuring
success; identifying priority areas and developing management systems also with various
other activities. Thereby it benefits the extension functionary, subject matter specialists, and
the public.

Information provided through Cyber extension

Cyber extension can provide a large amount of information to farmers. Some of those as
mentioned by Sharma are:
1. Weather: Daily information on maximum and minimum temperature, day length,
direction and speed of the wind, rainfall, relative humidity and weather forecasting.
2. Alert: Information regarding type of disaster, sudden change in weather, outbreak of
diseases and insects etc.
3. Insurance: Detail information about the insurance of farmers, their crop, animal and
agricultural assets like tractors, implements tools etc.
4. General Awareness: Information about vaccination, cleanliness, health, family planning
and nutrition.
5. Rural Finance: Information about microfinance and subsidy etc.
6. Education: Detail information about the farmer's training and educational knowledge of
his children about professional and non-professional institutions.
7. Animal Science: The details regarding the local animal and well-known diseases, better
breeds, balanced feed, shed management, health etc.

Advantages of Cyber Extension

1. Information can be provided quickly to farmers.
2. Round-the-clock service to farmers.
3. Information can be accessed from any place on the earth.
4. Helpful in enhancing the communication efficiency.
5. Preserve the quality of the message.
6. Experts can be contacted directly.
7. Per unit cost is less as compared to the traditional system of extension.
Disadvantages of Cyber Extension

1. literacy is still an issue; it is clubbed with a lack of skills to use the computer and the
economic capabilities of the larger masses.
2. Capital cost of technologies is high and it is associated with an ongoing cost for
support and access. Comparatively, it works out to be expensive.
3. Linked along with high cost and the presence of both irrelevant and relevant
information. All information present may not be useful to the target group with
whom the Extension agency is working.
4. Traditional extension approaches like training and zonal workshops take a back seat.
5. It can lead to technological dependence, with an inherent need for capacity building.
6. Telecommunication infrastructure for the Extension agency may not be provided for
in many remote and rural areas and in urban areas too. Very often the choice of new
ICT available is severely limited.
7. Cyber extension centres are very often characterised by low participation of the
target group of the extension agency. The community members for whom
programmes are supposed to be undertaken may not be cyber familiar, as a result,
planning of the extension programmes becomes non-participatory.

Tools of Cyber Extension

The important tools of cyber extension include:
1. E-mail
2. File transfer protocol ( FTP)
3. Telnet
4. Usenet Newsgroups
5. World Wide Web

1. E-mail: A widely-used method to exchange digital messages over the internet. It

replaced traditional communication methods like post and fax. Modern email operates on a
store-and-forward system, allowing users to send and receive messages without being
online simultaneously.

2. File Transfer Protocol (FTP): A protocol used to transfer files between computers via
TCP/IP connections. FTP allows uploading, downloading, renaming, and moving files across
remote networks.
3. Telnet: An application that allows users to remotely log on to other computers,
accessing specific data and applications over a network using TCP/IP.

4. Usenet Newsgroups: A worldwide network where users post and read messages on
various subjects, organized into newsgroups. They function like a bulletin board with vast
topics of interest.

5. World Wide Web (WWW): The web is a communication model that enables
information exchange over the internet using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). It connects
hypertext documents and multimedia, forming a global resource for users.

Conclusion
Cyber extension uses technologies to deliver rapid and convenient access to rich sources of
information, unlike traditional approaches which have been constrained by distance and
place. e-Extension reaches out to all with new ideas, and enables discussion groups, expert
advice, and sharing of experiences from anybody from any part of the globe. It advocates for
continuous education with the use of online resources. It provides social benefits because it
reduces geographic isolation and enhances social interaction. One can also practice cyber
advocacy for pressing community concerns. A very important result is the lessening of the
gap between town and country, and thereby welding the bonds that unite them.

References
Cyber Extension / e Extension – Communication technologies for extension education. (n.d.).
https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/hsp13/chapter/cyber-extension-e-extension/