Citation

Proost MDC. Eur. J. Agr. Educ. Ext. 1994; 1(2): 15.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Stichting European Higher Agricultural Education)

DOI

10.1080/13892249485300131

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In 1991 the Dutch government launched a Multiyear Crop Protection Plan, which aims at the reduction of the use of chemical pesticides in agriculture. Detailed reduction targets have been set for the years 1995 and 2000. Compliance of the reduction of the use of chemicals is based on voluntary action, and extension is an important instrument in achieving the changes in farm practices. In this article a short overview is given of the crop protection legislation in Dutch agriculture and of the survey on extension the author conducted in 1991/1992. Furthermore, some ideas are presented on the use of research results for extension. These results need a translation to extension, in which case it is important to know the users. Quite often the research is regarded as a separate and independent process but, however, in this process power and politics are involved. Extension programmes may be changed on the bases of research results and researchers should be more aware of the implications of their role and the choices they make.