Question

Which of the following are the objectives of field trips? 
• [(A).] To provide recreational opportunities for participants. 
• [(B).] To stimulate people to action and encourage adoption of practices. 
• [(C).] To expose visitors to new and different situations. 
• [(D).] To widen the vision of farmers and cater to group psychology and leadership. 
Choose the correct answer from the options given below: 
 

• A. (A), (B) and (D) only.
• B. (C) and (D) only.
• C. (A), (B), (C) and (D).
• D. (B), (C) and (D) only.

Hint:

Remember the proverb associated with field trips:
"Seeing is believing."
Field trips exploit this psychological principle by showing farmers real-world evidence of agricultural innovations.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
A field trip (or study tour) is an extension teaching method where a group of farmers travels to an agricultural university, research station, or successful farm to observe new technologies in practice.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the educational objectives of field trips:
- Stimulating action and adoption (B): When farmers observe a new technology succeeding on a peer's farm, their confidence in that technology increases.
This visual evidence motivates them to adopt similar practices on their own farms. Thus, (B) is a primary objective.
- Exposure to new situations (C): Field trips take farmers out of their familiar home environments and expose them to different cropping patterns, soils, and management practices, encouraging innovative thinking. Thus, (C) is a primary objective.
- Widening vision and group dynamics (D): Traveling and learning together as a group builds solidarity, encourages peer-to-peer learning, and develops leadership skills among participating farmers. Thus, (D) is a primary objective.
- Statement (A) is incorrect: While field trips are enjoyable, providing recreation is not a primary *educational objective* of agricultural extension.
The program is funded and organized for educational and training purposes, not as a leisure trip.
Therefore, the primary educational objectives are (B), (C), and (D).

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct combination is (B), (C) and (D) only, matching Option (D).