THE EVALUATION OF HORTICULTURAL EXTENSION IN ...

The Evaluation of Horticultural Extension in Hanover Region of Germany3. Horticultural Department in theChamberAs already discussed in the previoussection, the Chamber pays special attentionto the horticultural production. For thatreason horticultural extension activities areplanned and implemented by the Departmentof Horticulture which is located at the mainoffice of the Chamber. The role of theDepartment is crucial for horticulturalgrowers in Hanover region.The Department of Horticulture canbe seen in Figure 2. It has currently 130 staffof which 110 people are researchers and 20people are extension specialists, ten out of20 extension specialists work as a full-timebasis. They are permanently worked in theregion and are mobile with their cars. Fulltimeextension specialists try to determinegrowers’ problems at the farm level andproduce solutions for these problems. Aboutseven out of ten full-time extensionspecialists work in fruit (orchard) productionand three of them work in the ornamentalplants. The remaining extension specialistswork part time in extension andadministrative works.For example, two of the part timeextension staff work in vegetables. One ofthem is responsible for asparagus (spargel),which is one of the most important crops inthe Lower Saxony in terms of production,consumption, and profitability.3.1. Organization of the DepartmentThe head of Horticulture Departmenthas 12 units and two extension circles whichare called EDV-extension circle andHorticultural extension circle. The maintasks of EDV-Extension circle are tomanage communication network and toprovide connection between the Departmentand the growers. At the same time, thisextension circle provides connectionbetween the extension workers andresearchers. These are given below;I. The Units of Head of the Department1. Nursery2. Vegetable production, quality and watersaving,3. Intensive vegetable production and seedproduction techniques-methods,4. Asparagus and field vegetable,5. Horticultural production techniques andmethods,6. Quality control of vegetables and fruits,7. Ornamental plants,8.Intensive information for horticulturegrowers,9. Service productivity in horticulture,10. Farm economics and EDV,11. Retail trade and selling and12. Staff management.II. EDV –Extension circle has a role onconsultation,III. Horticultural Extension Circle has fivesubjects. These are;1. Production,2. Farm economics,3. Marketing,4. Extension and5. Production and marketing.HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENTExtension PersonsFull-timeextensionworkerPart-timeextensionworkerResearchersFruitOrnamentalVegetableNurseryAsparagusFigure 2. Distribution of staff of the Department140