This paper reports on the development of a communication dissemination strategy for aquaculture recommendations resulting from participatory research in eastern India. It focuses on the rural poor who have limited access to resources and no effective aquaculture extension support. Important matters in relation to access to extension messages include socio-economic issues, access to TV and radio receivers, literacy levels and language.

The paper shows the relative accessibility of different types of extension media for the different stakeholders. A communications strategy involving dances, songs and drama and different types of media (video and audio cassettes, posters and leaflets) is presented and costed in three stages, together with a design checklist. The importance of links between research and development in the context of extension is discussed.