Agricultural extension officers need to communicate agricultural information on natural resources, animals, crops, on how best to utilise the farmland.

how to construct proper irrigation schemes, the economic use and storage of water, how to combat animal disease.

Officer need to know How to save on the cost of farming equipment and procedures. They need to ensure that farmers understand this information and use it on their farms in order to obtain the best production.

Agricultural extension officers often propagate new farming methods.  This always takes place in conjunction with the farmers, who make the final decision.

Agricultural extension officers encourage, adopt new, improved methods of farming, using a variety of methods to reach the farmers.

All the resources on the farm are then thoroughly investigated. Sometimes it is necessary for agricultural extension officers to develop recovery programmes for eroded soil, protect cultivated land against erosion and develop a new pasture system.

They propagate farming and development programmes aimed at reaching marginalised farmers or those who have little access to information and extension services. They do this in collaboration with farming communities, helping them to help themselves to become more self-reliant and independent. 

Extension officer is expected to have a wide knowledge of agriculture, or may choose to operate from a more central locality and provide, as subject matter specialists, more specialised services within specific farming enterprises

Qualifications

Personal Requirements good communication and interpersonal skills possess persuasive abilities tact keen interest and knowledge of farming and the environment enjoy working outdoors The minimum requirement for appointment as an agricutural extension officer, is a BSc (Agric) or BAgric degree.