Strategic Studies On Technical Extension Of Agicultural Research Academies And Institutes

Agricultural research academies and institutes are not only the main bodies for China's agricultural science and technology innovation, but also an important force of the diversified and new agricultural extension system in China. They engaged in scientific and technological extension with superiority in science and technology, information, human resources, practices, and so on. They also have more focused, flexible, and effective features. Those advantages and features are helpful for speeding up the transformation of scientific and technological accomplishments, promoting close combination of scientific research and production, strengthening whole functions of the present agricultural extension system, and raising the contribution rate of agricultural science and technology and their own leading position.Based on the investigation of agricultural research academies and institutes in Zhejiang Province, and the analysis of the practical activities in science and technology for Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences and 11 regional agricultural research institutes, this paper proposed following four factors which restrict scientific and technological extension for agricultural research academies and institutes: (i)The functional location of agricultural research academies and institutes was not clear, and lack of sustainable financial support by publics; (ii)Lack of motivation to promote extension works; (iii) Imbalance between innovation accomplishments and market demands; (iv)Lack of strong extension service system. The six major tasks for future were suggested as follows: (i) Establishment of a sound service system for promoting scientific and technological extension; (ii) Strengthening the cooperation between academies and region to accelerate the transformation of science and technology; (iii) Innovation extension models of sciences and technology for improving service effectiveness; (iv) Providing technological support for new rural construction; (v) Promoting scientific and technological personnel go to countryside to undertake entrepreneurial activity; and (vi) Carrying out scientific and technical training services to improve the capacity of farmers to get rich.The paper also reviewed and summarized ideas and models for agricultural research of academies and institutes to promote scientific and technological extension. Suggestions were proposed to break through traditional thinking and misunderstanding, strengthen the sense of responsibility to promote scientific and technological extension and establish a development concept of modern agricultural science and technology for achieving "four changes", including change of extension service concept, change of object, change of contents, and change of ways and means. By construction of scientific and technological demonstration basis as a centre, implement of scientific and technological projects as a link, taking team-service as a support, training modern and new farmers as a method, use of the experience of a selected spot to promote the work in the entire area, the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements in agriculture and improve the ability of farmers to absorb new technologies could be accelerated. The paper proposed six priority extension models, which include the base model-based promotion, implementation of the project-based promotion, cooperation of academy-region type promotion, science and technology correspondent promotion, technical training-based promotion, industry-led promotion.For strengthening agricultural research academies and institutes of science and technology to promote the work, the paper proposed five countermeasure: (i) Establishment of public welfare orientation for the government's financial stability and support; (ii) The establishment of an organizational system and networks to promote science and technology; (iii) Intensifying effective supply of innovation and scientific and technological achievements, optimizing disciplines, innovation of agricultural research ideas and establishment of an effective mechanism for the supply of scientific and technological achievements; (iv) Complete the transformation and extension incentives; (v) The establishment of training and access system to improve quality of personnel who engaged in scientific and technological extension.