• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.247-254
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• 2000

Since 1997, Korean government changed the status of extension educators from central government staff to county/city government staff for the sake of democratization and localization, regardless of opposition of academic society of extension professionals. Localization of extension educators followed by government restructuring in Korea, resulted various problems, such as 1) Decreased morale and number of extension educators, thus weakening the extension educational function, 2) Weakened linkages between national and local extension offices, 3) Less opportunity for in-service edition of extension educators, 4) Weakened linkages between agricultural research and extension, etc. During the last 30 years, extension services have helped Korean farmers in achieving self sufficiency of rice and year around supply of green vegetables by diffusion of vinyl house technology. Various problems after three years of localization of extension educators were discussed between announcer of radio KBS and a professor of extension in an interview format, and it was concluded that national efforts should be needed to restore morale of extension educators to continually achieve the national goals of food production, balanced national development and preservation of environment, at the same time to meet increasing needs of farmers.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 1994

This study was conducted to investigate the organizational climate of the agricultural extension education agencies and its influence on their educators` attitude toward job in Korea. The specific objectives of the study were 1) to identify the educators` perception of the organizational climate in the agricultural extension education agencies, and 2) to determine whether or not the educators` perception of the organizational climate influnce on their attitude toward job. Organizational climate has bees defined by many scholars as the properties of the social psychological environment perceived by organization members. There are various theoretical interpretations offered by die scholas about the effect of organizational climate upon organization members` behavior. Through a series of the theoretical reviews, this study could draw more than twenty variables in four types of organizational climate which might be perceived by the educators of agricultural extension education agencies and might influence upon their attitude toward job. The data were collected mainly through questionnaires sent to the responsible officers for administering the questionnaires for all adult educators of 30 agricultural extension education agencies randomly sampled from the population of 190 agencies. After data cleaning, a total of 629 responded questionnaires were analyzed for the study. The statistical methods used in the study were percentile, correlation, one way analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis. The two major findings of the study were as follows : 1. The organizational climate of agricultural extension education agencies were classified into four types : 1) democratic-autonomous, 2) cooperative-friendly, 3) achievement-oriented, and 4) bureaucratic-authoritarian. Among these of organizational climates, the cooperative-friendly one was most positively but the bureaucratic-authoritarian one was least positively perceived by the educators. 2. The educators` potion of the organizational climate and their attitude toward job were significantly correlated. The educators` perception of the organizational climate explained 41 percent of the variance of their attitude toward job in a multiple regression analysis In particular, the perception of the achievement oriented type of the organizational climates alone explained 34 percent of the variance of the favorable attitude.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.21-36
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• 2004

The objectives of this study were to explore theoretically the factors that were associated with role conflict of rural extension educators, to investigate the consequences of this conflict, and to suggest possible solutions to the role conflict. This study was carried out through literature review. The findings from this study were as follows : 1) The causes of role conflict were divided into individual characteristics and social or organizational characteristics. Existing research papers examining the cause of rural extension educators' role conflict had focused mainly on individual characteristics. Therefore, social characteristics of the role conflict should be included in future research activities. 2) The consequences of role conflict were made up of individual dimensions and organizational dimensions. However, pervious researches on rural extension educators' role conflict had dealt with the individual dimensions only. Therefore, the consequences of organizational dimensions should be added to future researches. 3) Revision of roles and job specifications, developing professional competencies, and raising achievement motivation were some of the possible solutions to rural extension educators' role conflict. These solutions, if managed effectively, may improve the performance of extension organizations, as well as that of the individuals by solving the role conflict of rural extension educators.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.279-290
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• 2004

This study aims to explore the benefits and extension's role with farmers' markets in USA. This study was conducted by literature review and case study. They help establish connections between consumers and food producers, provide an additional income source for farmers. and in general, serve as a tool for community development. First, from education to advocacy, from research to advising, extension educators have multiple roles to play in promoting the growth of farmers' markets. Second, it is essential that extension engage others who are interested in seeing the markets succeed and create opportunities for such groups to make the market unique in their given communities. Third, extension promotes farmers' markets through the creation and dissemination of how-to publications. These publications typically include tips about having a market establishing a prominent and easily accessible market location, and offering a sufficient product variety to ensure consumer satisfaction. Fourth, efforts by extension offices are already paying off for consumers, vendors, and communities. Involving those who will purchase as well as produce the foods sold at who will purchase as well as produce the foods sold at farmers' markets should diversify the audience extension educators reach. Fifth, extension educators can aid in this effort by encouraging farmers' market vendors to diversify their of offerings and to produce and sell value-added products. Sixth, many extension offices offer guides to the direct marketing venues in their counties, such as farmers' markets, pick your own operations, roadside stands, and community supported apiculture farms. Once such a guide is produced. extension educators can distribute it at workshops and inform local media about the guide so that they can publicize it. Seventh, extension educators should seek to involve those groups who can collaborators could include community economic development organizations, consumer groups, churches, food banks, land preservation organizations, school, farmers' organizations, and other community groups. Eighth, extension educators can also contribute to the improvement of existing markets by offering workshops for vendors in business management, advertizing, marketing, bookkeeping, personnel management, and food preservation. Ninth, farmer's market also provide an opportunity for extension to have face-to face communication with farmers. Tenth, if farmers' markets are well managed, these markets can provide economic, nutritive, educational, social and psychological benefits to venders and the community.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.143-153
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• 2001

Agricultural extension has contributed enormously to agriculture and farmers, since Rural Development Administration(RDA) was founded in Korea. However, as the decentralization got started and world environment has changed, agriculture extension shrank by transferring the function of agricultural extension to local government. According to public opinion appeared on the bulletin boards of RDA web site, many people suggest that agricultural extension should be improved from the current system and services. Findings in the transfer of the extension system from national status to local government showed some advantages and disadvantages; 1) Agricultural extension services was decreased sharply by a large dropping in the number of extension educators. 2) The identity of agricultural extension services was disappearing. 3) The extension projects when matched with local features could be better implemented. 4) The lives of extension educators were better stabilized. Rural Development Administration intends to transfer the director of the local Agriculture Technology Center to the national status. This would return all current extension educators step by step to national positions. By doing so, agricultural extension scholars and farmers are welcoming this agenda. On the other hand, the extension educators themselves were divided by contradictory opinions Therefore, government should search for the better alternatives to establish more effective system with considerations of various aspects in activating the agricultural extension services.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.289-293
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• 2000

The way society works in the 21st century differs from that of 20th century, since the people are brought-up to speed regarding current technologies. The www.aflos.pe.kr site and direct e-mailing system were very useful in delivering floricultural information to extension educators, producers, and variety of individuals. The author’s one year experience indicated that extension educators and farmers are receptive to internet technologies, and extension educators have increased the knowledge base of their clientele by responding through direct e-mails. The internet and direct e-mailing systems were popular and powerful way of transferring floricultural information, especially agricultural extension manpower were limited because of localization of extension educators by changing national status to local governments and decreased number of extension educators through government restructuring. The direct e-mailing to approximately 503 individuals resulted about $1{\sim}3%$ responses and the number of phone calls, however virus protection software for e-mail, internet, file servers and desktops to provide the integrated real-time detection of viruses were needed. For more effective operation of direct e-mailing in the future, more specified target groups and specialized organization such as perennials, bulbs, flowering potted plants. and cut flowers. At the same time, things that have worked for last century should not be replaced with new technology, specifically, the value in one-on-one meetings should not be replaced, but rather serve as a supplement.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.327-331
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• 2000

The purposes of this study were to analyze achievement of the Korea Agricultural Extension Specialist Association and suggest new directions for further development. The Korea Agricultural Extension Specialist Association was organized to develop competencies in specialized field for extension educators in 1996. About 47% of extension educators joined academy during the 5 year period, even though there were many difficulty in organizing extension educators, the Korea Agricultural Extension Specialist Association has achieved to increase independent learning activity, to share new information and improve agent’s competency. New directions for the future development of the Korea Agricultural Extension Specialist Association activities should include the following measures; 1) Academy manages to help member’s competency, 2) Every member of the Association tries to make a concrete goal of activity, 3) The Association members should find ways to enable farmers to remain informed on agricultural extension services to people.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.267-283
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• 2003

The purposes of the study were to; 1) examine the diffusion and adoption of new agricultural technology in rice farming, 2) survey the status of agricultural education institutions on technology transfer, and 3) explore the linkages between agricultural education and extension for more effective reinforcement strategies to further the diffusion and adoption of new agricultural technology in Korea. Literature review, field survey and panel discussions were employed to strengthen the linkages among agricultural education, research and extension in Korea. As the results of analysis of the diffusion and adoption of new agricultural technology in rice farming following recommendations were offered; 1. Extension services have helped Korean farmers in achieving self-sufficiency in rice and year-round supply of green vegetables as well as upbringing rural youth, however, government changed the status of extension educators from central government staff to county/city government staff since 1997. This brought about various problems such as: decreased morale and number of extension educators, thus weakening the extension education function, weakened linkages between national and local extension offices, less opportunity for in-service education of extension educators, and weakened linkages between agricultural research and extension, etc. 2. In order to insure that extension educators are high caliber professional individuals, it is crucial to establish a system that nationally recognizes these individuals as such, and that provides a professional development path. It is important to restore the morale of extension educators to continually achieve the national goals of food production, balanced national development and preservation of environment, at the same time to meet increasing needs of farmers. 3. Because of the critical importance of diffusing innovations to agricultural producers in order to ensure quality and steady food supply, it is crucial that these issues be addressed before the extension service further deteriorates. Further research activities on agricultural extension should be conducted for more effective agricultural extension system in Korea to achieve a greater rural, national and regional development. 4. Research and implementation activities should be emphasized and encouraged to improve the cooperation and collaboration among agricultural education research and extension to better serve farmers' educational and information needs. National level research activities should be encouraged to improve the effectiveness of agricultural technology transfer including internet education programs for farmers in Korea.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.321-325
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• 2000

There are many opportunities for Agricultural Technology Centers and for local communities to benefit from the computer and internet and compete in the information age. However, many rural communities appeared to lack human and financial resources required to enable access to the computer and internet. A case of implementation process of establishing agricultural information system at Asan Agricultural Technology Center during the last 10 years were presented. Extension educators took leadership role in facilitating the educational needs of farmers in terms of related resources for the computer and internet extension. To better prepare communities for the information age, community access was critical for promoting the technology and improving proficiency of local community members in its use, extension educators need to take leadership role in assessing community ability to provide internet access points for people without computers. Extension educators at city/county Agricultural Technology Centers may initiate to attract people with internet needs. computer resources, technological experience, and know-how for setting up internet access points in community locations.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.3-15
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• 1999

The objectives of this study were 1) to review the developmental process of agricultural extension services since 1960 in Korea, and 2) to suggest new paradigm of agricultural extension education in the 21st century. The study suggested major objectives of agricultural extension service in Korea should be focused on; 1) Agricultural technology transfer for environmentally friendly food production, 2) Diffusion of energy saving and safe farming technologies and upbringing export oriented agriculture, 3) Education and training of capable farmers for competitive world, and 4) Technological support for home improvement considering harmony of human, environment and life. To achieve major objectives of extension services the following strategies should be employed; 1) National administration and financing. 2) Farmer oriented services should be performed since extension education is originally two-way communication process to help farmers in better decision making, 3) Human resource development for extension educators to meet increasing demands of target population, and policy measures should be implemented to increase morale of extension educators, and 4) Role of public extension should be strengthened to meet needs of majority farmers and public interests in the knowledge based information society in the 21st century.