While eExtension is an emerging discipline and at times hard to draw hard lines around, it is a sector that is set to explode.
At the turn of the century there were an estimated 360 Million people online worldwide, Internet Worldwide Stats estimates there are currently 1.463 Billion, predictions are that we will pass the 3 Billion Internet Users Worldwide in the next 2 - 3 years.
Accompanying this expansion of internet use is a rapid uptake of social media tools, for example blogging, podcasting, social bookmarking, and social networking. All tools that can be used in an integrated eExtension strategy.
If you think this might be a small percentage of internet users, check out Universal McCann’s Wave 3 report. Think big [73% read blogs, 81% watch online video, 57% have joined a Social Network]. Some of those people are your stakeholders, they are your audience and they are ready to consume eExtension.
In fact they might soon start demanding it!
The Philippines government has recognised that many in their farming community are accessing information electronically and that this is not a temporary trend, but a fundamental shift. So the Agricultural Training Institute has been appointed to lead the provision of eExtension services.
During recent Octoberfest celebrations Agricultural Training Institute Director Asterio Saliot promoted the use of the eExtension services by web and mobile phone as a means to free education.
While the associated web portal is in a beta phase, and content is in development, it is significant that the government should put considerable resources behind eExtension.
There are already a number of online videos in the crop videos section of the site, including one on the cultivation of Tilapia. This particular video might alarm some Australia readers as Tilapia are the subject of invasive pest management extension efforts.
No doubt Philippines agriculture will benefit from their government’s foresight as their program develops.
What is your organisation doing to incorporate eExtension into current extension efforts? Leave us a comment below about examples of good eExtension that you have seen.
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