soil-conservation-people-religion-and-land.pdf - South West NRM

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10. Wider Use of Group Methods in Extension
Advi-gx- services faced with a wide ratio of advisors to
landhq+*rs, should exploit the effectiveness of group extension
methg@gzrather than limiting their efforts largely to timeconsmkinp
one-to-one contacts and less effective mass media.
While both the latter methods are appropriate to certain stages
of the adoption process, group methods, including specialised
study groups, have not been used to their full potential in most
States.
11. Continuins Education for Field Staff
Technological change and the increasing complexity of
agricultural techniques has increased the need for in-service
training of advisory staff. There is a need to maintain the
credibility of field staff as perceived by landholders, by wellplanned
courses on integrated production systems using updated
information on the most recent products, implements and
techniques. Without an intimate knowledge of modern
methodology, advisory services will not achieve general
acceptance.
12. Use of Soil Conservation Consultants
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Procedures should be developed to engage consultants- and
contractors to speed up responses to requests for farm planning
and soil conservation. A backlog of many months exists for
action on requests from landholders in some regions. At an
estimated cost of $40-50 per hour to supply government advisory
officers, consultants could make a significant contribution to
meeting the demand for soil conservation advice at competitive
rates to the taxpayer.
13. Home Study Courses in Soil Conservation
The National Soil Conservation Programme should initiate
external courses in all States in consultation with educational
institutions. Full use should be made of modern distance
teaching techniques to bring effective home study to all
interested landholders. The nationally offered course by the
Dar : Downs Institute gives useful indications of the
stre -
and weaknesses of a first attempt to meet this need.
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14 . *gfz& of
The potential of rural and city women to contribute to achieving
a comprehensive community awareness of the socio-economic
significance of land degradation should be consciously
exploited. Women are in an especially good position to
inculcate a new appreciation of land ethics and stewardship into
the younger generation.