PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION - PARTNERS OR RIVALS

This article examines the roles of the public and private sectors in a gricultural extension. Extension services are classified according to their economic characteristics to identify areas where opportunities f or private (for-profit and nonprofit) participation will arise. The au thor finds that commercialization of farm operations gives rise to dem and for specialized client-and location-specific extension services th at can be provided by private for-profit firms, although the main buye rs will likely ne market-oriented medium and large farmers. Because of market failures, some types of extension services will require public funding-although nor necessarily public delivery. A critical governme nt role in a pluralistic extension system would be to provide the appr opriate regulatory framework to ensure fair competition and maintain q uality standards.