Agri-extension services focus on educating farmers about the application of scientific research and new knowledge of agri-practices. At present, farm extensions services are being provided mainly by the public sector.
"In pockets, private extensions have also displayed their role in extending commodity specific knowledge and advisory to the farmers but we expect that the corporate houses will come in a bigger way to serve the society especially marginal, poor and landless farmers," Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said while addressing an ICAR event here.
"Our focus is on strengthening both these arms of extension," Singh said, adding that the government has launched a 'Kisan TV channel' keeping view the lack of infrastructure in reaching individual farmers.
The minister said the challenge of extension services for future is to educate farmers about climate change, excess use of fertilizer and shrinking resources, among others.
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He also emphasised on the need to achieve both food and nutritional security. "Besides food security, nutritional security has been a concern and this has to be appropriately dealt," the minister added.
The government is seriously debating on bringing out a viable insurance scheme for farmers, he added.