A Theoretical Perspective on Research-Extension-Farmer Linkages

Scientists involved in basic, strategic, applied and adaptive research, together with subject matter specialists, extension workers and farmers should be seen as participants in a single agricultural knowledge and information system. The interface between research and technology transfer is an important one in determining the performance of the whole system. The conventional argument for linkages is that by working together these actors stand better chances for establishing the institutional relationships that can facilitate access to technology, information, capital and marketing arrangements which can inturn enable the farmers to be competitive. The purpose of this paper is to build a theoretical perspective in terms of research-extension-farmer linkages in agriculture sector. A thorough review on all the aspects of research-extension-farmer linkage system has been presented and discussed. It can be stated that the constraints which hinder these linkages potentially affect the agricultural output of farmers, whereas effective links will allow farmers to enhance their output through the availability of farming innovations.