ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the patterns and new trends in agricultural extension. It also discusses the effectiveness in diffusion of new agricultural technology and their applicability to small farmers in developing countries, with special focus on Asia and Africa. The systems of agricultural extension are many. Every nation state has one, many have more than one. The numbers of professional personnel involved are legion. One criterion which is perhaps most often used as a measure of success for agricultural extension is that of production. If the farmers produce more, agricultural extension may receive the credit, at least in part. In addition, there are many examples of small-scale local efforts in agricultural extension which have been highly successful. Failures sometimes result from excessive influence of foreign sources attempting to assist by bringing in agricultural technology from some other part of the world.
