ABOUT THE BOOK The book is specially designed for UG and PG students of Agriculture keeping in mind the need of extension at farm level. Contents covered in this Textbook intends to expose students to various agricultural and rural development programmes and also evolutionary aspects that extension took to stand as a discipline in the prevailing agricultural scenario. The scope of the book is divided into four major areas. The first area deals with basic concepts of extension and education, terminologies in extension, changing scenario of agricultural extension and future challenges for extension. The second area deals with first-line extension system, early extension efforts, community development programmes, agricultural development programmes, panchayat raj systems and social justice and poverty alleviation programme. The third area deals with gender analysis and issues, women in agriculture, women development programmes and Mahalir Thittam implemented in Tamil Nadu state of India. The fourth area deals with changing focus in agricultural extension, latest concepts and approaches in extension.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereals next to rice and wheat, in the world as well in India. It is one of the most versatile crops and can be grown in diverse environmental conditions and has diversified uses in human food and animal feed. It has got immense potential and is therefore called as "miracle crop" and also "queen of cereals." The crop occupies third place among the cereals and it is cultivated over an area of 7.59 million ha with a production of 14.71 million tonnes and the average productivity is 1938 kg /ha.In Tamil Nadu, it occupies an area of 0.20 million hectares with a production of 0.24 million tonnes and an average productivity of 1189 kg/ ha. maize growers face specific problems in marketing because the feed industries procure maize through private agencies like village merchants, middlemen problem etc. In order to help the maize growers to overcome the constraints social studies are required ultimately. In this regard the present study is contemplated.