Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.25, No.4, 2009

PERFORMANCE DIGEST OF AGRICULTURE EXTENSION SERVICES RENDERED BY PUBLIC SECTOR AND NGOs IN DISTRICT OF NWFP,

IFTIKHAR AHMED*, MUHAMMAD IDREES*, NAEEM SHAH** and SYED WAQAR SHAH***

* Department of Agricultural Extension Education & Communication, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar – Pakistan. ** Institute of Development Studies, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar – Pakistan. *** NWFP University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar – Pakistan.

ABSTRACT In Pakistan agriculture department is mainly mandated for the Agricultural development in the country. Their responsibility is shared by NGO’s to some extent. The public sector and NGO are discharging the dissemination of improved agriculture practices among the farming community. The present study was conducted in district Kohat, 2007. The data included all types of respondents i-e age below 30 years(26%), 30 to 40 years (24.67%) and above 40 years (49.33%),with educational status illiterate (39.67%), literate up to primary (15%), middle (27.33%), metric and above (18%) and having land below 20 acres (50%), 20 to 40 acres (16.67%) and above 40 acres (33.33%). Both public and NGO’s sectors are playing important role in providing information, inputs recommendations of different crops in their own perspective. But, farmers were satisfied with the working efficiency of NGOs regarding wheat and maize etc. They were also getting benefits from the worth while advices and the help of public sector and NGO’s.

Key Words: Comparison, Performance, Public Sector, NGOs

Citation: Ahmad, I., M. Idress, N. Shah and S.W. Shah. 2009. Performance digest of agriculture extension services rendered by public sector and NGOs in District Kohat of NWFP, Pakistan. Sarhad J. Agric. 25(4): 617-621.

INTRODUCTION Extension is a service which assists farmers in improving farming methods and techniques, increasing production efficiencies and income, improving their levels of living and lifting social and educational standards (Maundar, 1973). Extension personnel have the task of bringing scientific knowledge to farm families. While, elaborating the role of extension worker Bradfield stated that the object of the task is to improve the efficiency of agriculture (Bradfield, 1966). Agricultural extension worker thus is an educator and communication agent. Extension workers are responsible for the identification of farmers’ problems and production constraints. They work closely with subject matter specialists and research workers. Extension workers responsibility is to disseminate information about new technology and teach farmers how to use it successfully to increase their production and income. This sort of responsibility is educational in nature. However, extension personnel are also mandated to disseminate information and encourage the application of this information to solve specific problems. They also play a coordinating and developmental role in this regard. Extension frequently takes the lead in helping farmers to solve the problems thus, if industry is supplying the wrong type of fertilizers, or if an insecticide is failing to produce results, extension workers takes it up with the industry to search out a solution. If services needed are not being provided in a satisfactory manner, cooperation may be formed, and thus extension worker is an action oriented force in the development of such farmers. Technical recommendation, input supply and other agricultural services are all closely related in agriculture development, and technology transfer. The extension worker as technical agent monitors the crop in his assigned zone or circle, and when problem arises, or when a particular input is needed, the extension worker not only provides the technical advice but manages the input. Technical Specialists work directly with small farmers to develop, test and then demonstrate improved agricultural technology. In different developmental programs, extension workers can play different roles. They are expected to help farmers about new technology alteration, and to help them in access to inputs, credit and marketing services. In situations when there is a shortage of trained agricultural personnel, extension personnel frequently become directly involved in supplying inputs and services. Dispersing inputs, credit and other services is a more clear-cut rewarding job than conducting extension program. One of the major goals of extension workers is to influence the way farmers and farm families make decisions, and it is important for extension workers to recognize that women in farm families influence men’s decision about agricultural activities (Mickelwait, 1976). Iftikhar Ahmed et al. Performance digest of agriculture extension services rendered by public sector… 618

Non Governmental Organization (NGO’s) As the 21st century is the era of privatization and decentralization. Government of Pakistan has also started some work on this aspect to strengthen and encourage the private sector to play its role in agriculture development. Government is seems to be very keen on bringing the investors to invest their money in agriculture sector. Pakistan faced severe crisis of food shortage in a recent past. In Pakistan, per acre yield of various crops is very low as compared to other countries (Abbas, 2004). Though we have fertile lands and conductive climate but yet our yield is low. It does not fulfill the food requirements of the population, which is increasing day by day. All this is because of the facts that our farmers are not literate and they are not using latest technology for crop production. In this regard, technology dissemination should be done on war footing and thus the role of NGO sector is very crucial in this connection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS Universe of the Study North West Frontier Province (NWFP) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. It has 25 districts in total, in which, Kohat is one of the most important and progressive districts in terms of more infrastructures such as roads, electricity, transportation, and communication system, education, health care, irrigation facilities and access to commercial markets. District Kohat was purposively selected for the given study due to the reason of easily accessibility. District Kohat is divided in to two tehsils viz. Tehsil Kohat and Tehsil Lachi. Information was collected from both of these two tehsils. According to the census report of , the total land area of the district is 295054 hectares where 25% (74469 hectares) is cultivated 15572 hectares is irrigated while 58897 hectares is non-irrigated. The remaining 75% (220585 hectares) of land is uncultivated which has been classified as forest land (57001 hectares), barren land (30340 hectares), and uncultivable (133244 hectares). In the prevailing situations two cropping seasons are observed as Rabi and Kharif. The Rabi crops are generally wheat, barley, gram, rape and mustered etc., while maize, rice, bajra, jauwar, groundnut, sessimun and sugarcane crops are known as Kharif crops in the study area. The mean rainfall per annum in the district is 125-500 mm, with mean relative humidity 70-80% and climatic condition of the area is arid to semi arid. The population of the district is 562644 individuals with approximately 70% of them employed in agriculture.

Major Crops Major crops of the district include; maize, rice, bajra, juwar, ground nut, sugarcane, wheat, barley, gram, rape and mustard. The yield production of almost all the crops in the study area is too low and to investigate their possible reasons in reference to Agricultural Extension services and that of NGOs is the grave concern of the study. Other than cereal crops, Kohat district is famous for guava fruit production. Agricultural research system in the form of barani project research farm, agricultural extension and various NGOs are working to increase the production of various crops and ultimately the income and welfare of the farmers. Most of the farmers are using Pak 81 (64%), Bakhtawar 92 (38.67%), Khyber 87 (36.67%), Inqilab 91 (27.33%), and Pirsabak 2005 (24%) as the wheat verities. Of the total farmers, 82% are using local wheat. The reasons for using improved verities is that it provides more yield production (65.33%), has resistance to insect attack (44%) and resistant to diseases (44.67%). In addition to the above mentioned varieties, some other verities of crops are also used for cultivation. For example, farmers cultivate improved maize verities; Shaheen (66.67%), Changaz (60.33%), Sarhad white (54.67%), Azam 90 (28%) and Ghori (hybrid; 23.67%). Both chemical fertilizer and farm yard manure are also applied by the farmers. The major chemical fertilizers are Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) and Urea. All farmers found using to 2-3 bags of chemical fertilizer. The important insecticides in practice by the farmers are sufokin (42%) and Chlorpyripha (34%).

Sample The sample of this study consisted three hundred randomly selected respondents from ten union councils, 5 each from tehsil Kohat and tehsil Lachi. All respondents were male land owners actively engaged in farming.

Sampling Procedure The sampling was done in two phases. In phase 1, all the union councils which comprised the Kohat and Lachi tehsils were identified from local government records. The total numbers of union council in tehsil Kohat were 20, while 12 union councils were in tehsil lachi. It was initially decided to select randomly 5 union councils from each tehsil. In case of tehsil lachi, it was done accordingly but in tehsil Kohat, there were 5 union councils which Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.25, No.4, 2009 619

were having complete urban setup. Therefore, it was decided that in Kohat tehsil, selection of union councils would be made purposively. Union councils were selected in the primary sampling units to save the time and money.

In the second phase, the author and two enumerators went to the sampled union councils for recording the complete information about the list of sampling units in order to construct a sample frame. With the help of the local government personnel of union council and other knowledgeable persons, the author and enumerators compiled the list of all the farmers who are currently involved in farming. It was expected that the researcher would have access to farmers’ record pertaining to land from revenue department. However it was found that the roles were outdated and also could not tell the exact status of the farming community. Resultantly, these roles were not considered as a reliable source of information thus, new roles prepared by the author to ensure complete information about farmers. It is recorded that there were 300-350 or more farmers in each union council and from each union council 30 farmers were selected randomly. Since the numbers of farmers do not vary widely from union council to union council, the sampling was roughly proportional to the number of farmers.

Preparation of Questionnaire In view of the objective of the study, a preliminary interview schedule was prepared for the collection of the data. A panel of three experts in the discipline of agricultural extension tested the instrument for its face validity. A number of changes were suggested by the experts pertaining to format of interview schedule and questions. All the suggestions made by the experts were incorporated accordingly. Then the instrument was tested for its content validity by a panel of 5 experts. After a long discussion, judgment was made using the criteria of clarity of the questions, specifically of the questions directly addressing the objective of the study.

Data Collection The face to face interaction with the respondents not only provided the opportunity to establish good rapport with them but also to obtain high rate of response, which was 100 %. Besides asking written questions, farmers’ opinion, suggestion and experiences were also recorded.

Data Analysis/Processing Logically developed tables were made after data analysis by using statistical software (SPSS). The data was reported in terms of frequencies and percentages. A chi-square test was used to test the statistical significance of the association between two attributes (variables). For convenience, the chi-square test is defined as: rc()Oe− 2 χ 2 = ij ij ∑∑ e ij==11 ij ………………………………………………………………….(1) 2 Which under the null hypothesis (H0) follows a χ -distribution with (r-1) (c-1) degrees of freedom. In equation (1), Oij and eij are the observed and expected frequencies y of cell in ith row and jth column, respectively. It is important to mention that under the null hypothesis for each pair of the tested attributes, it was assumed that there is no significant association between the two variables i.e. the two variables are independent.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Agriculture is the main stay of Pakistan’s economy and majority of the country population lives in rural areas depends directly or indirectly on agriculture. The public sector and NGOs separately or collectively plays a crucial role in the over all development of economy by increasing agricultural production. It is generally agreed upon that the success of efforts for agricultural development is mainly dependent on the effective role of these two departments. The more efficient the personnel of these two departments are the more farmers will be inclined towards the adoption of latest technology of agriculture. The satisfaction of farmers is directly proportionate to the effectiveness of field staff of both the departments. Iftikhar Ahmed et al. Performance digest of agriculture extension services rendered by public sector… 620

Table I Comparison of public sectors and NGO workers visits to farmers Purpose of visit Extension worker (%) NGO (%) 1. Intensity of visit a) Once 48.33 38.33 b) Twice or more 51.67 61.67 2. Was the advice effective 58.33 60.00 3. Did you act on the advice 50.00 58.00 4. Quantify the benefits in yield increased 36.00 41.00 Source = Survey

Table I provides information about the public extension workers and NGO workers who visited to farmers which includes; intensity of visit, effectiveness of the advice during the visit, action on advice and quantification of the benefits in yield increase. In reply to intensity of visit, 51.67% farmers reported that they have met with extension worker twice, while 48.33% said they have met once with agricultural extension workers. Whereas 61.67% told that they have contacted NGO workers twice or more and 38.33% were of the view that they met once with NGO workers. Majority (58.33%) farmers told that they (extension workers) have given us good advice ad 60% told that NGO workers advice was effective. About 50% farmers acted on the advices of the extension workers, while, 58% acted on the advice of the NGO workers. Assistance to farmers in helping to identify and analyze their production problems and become aware of the opportunities of improvement (Adams, 1981). Generally, in Pakistan, the contact between extension worker and farmer is not satisfactory as reported by different studies like Nawaz (1989), Ali (1973), Masood (1973) and Mohammad (1981) to them the unsatisfactory contact between extension worker and farmer is due to different reasons, minimum staff and high ratio of extension worker and farmers i.e. 1- 1000., mobility facilities and unattractive offices and their locations.

Results pertaining to comparison between public sector and NGO recommendations for inputs use in wheat, maize, and groundnut are presented in Table II, III and IV respectively.

Table II Comparison between public sector and NGO recommendation regarding inputs in wheat crop Crops Extension NGO Wheat Yes % No % Yes % No % Seed rate 60.33 39.67 70.33 29.67 Sowing date 70.33 29.67 75.00 25.00 Weed control 61.67 38.33 58.33 41.67 Fertilizer application 77.67 22.33 66.33 33.67 Source = Survey; Chi-square (extension) = 8.36, p-value = 0.0391; Chi-square (NGO) = 1.84, p-value = 0.6047

Data depicted from the Table II indicates that NGO recommendations were more adopted by the respondents as compared to extension department for wheat crop with seed rate (70.33%) and sowing date (75%). While, recommendations offered by the extension department were more adopted by the respondents in area of weed control (61.67%) and fertilizer application (77.67%). Table 4.18(a) indicates that extension services play a significant role in regard to the agronomic practices attained for wheat crop as the chi-square value was found significant (P < 0.05). However, NGOs showed no association (P>0.05) with the agronomic practices used for wheat crop.

Table III Comparison between public sector and NGO recommendation regarding inputs in maize crop Crops Extension NGO Maize Yes % No % Yes % No % Seed rate 55.00 45.00 60.00 40.00 Sowing date 65.00 35.00 71.67 28.33 Weed control 28.33 71.67 33.67 66.33 Fertilizer application 55.00 45.00 67.00 43.00 Source = Survey; Chi-square (extension) = 16.69, p-value = 0.0008; Chi-square (NGO) = 19.22, p-value = 0.0002

Table III examined the comparison between public sector and NGO’s recommendations regarding the maize crop. Results show that recommendations offered for maize crop through NGO has an edge over the recommendations made by the extension department. As stated by the respondents: seed rate (60%); sowing date Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.25, No.4, 2009 621

(71.67%); weed control (33.67%); and fertilizer application (67.00%). While the recommendations suggested by the extension department were adopted with the ratio are: seed rate (55%); sowing date (65%); weed control (28.33%); and fertilizer application (55%). But the association of both the extension services department and that of NGOs was significant (P<0.05) with the agronomic practices used for maize crop. It built our confidence that the role of NGOs is important like those of extension services.

Table IV Comparison between public sector and NGO recommendations for inputs use in groundnuts Crops Extension NGO Groundnut Yes % No % Yes % No % Seed rate 21.67 78.33 45.00 55.00 Sowing date 40.00 60.00 56.67 43.33 Weed control 15.00 85.00 30.0 70.00 Fertilizer application 23.33 76.67 41.67 58.33 Source = Survey; Chi-square (extension) = 10.45, p-value = 0.0151; Chi-square (NGO) = 5.48, p-value = 0.1394

Table IV indicated that once again NGO has an edge over the extension department in the recommendations for groundnut crop. In case of seed ate; it is 45% (NGO) as compared to 21.67% (extension department); while in sowing date; NGO (56.67%) as compared to extension department (40%). Similarly, respondents were of the view that they have adopted the recommendations of weed control by NGO (30%) as compared to extension department (15%). In case of fertilizer application, 41.67% told that they have adopted the recommendations of NGO and 23.33% adopted through extension department. From the results, it is clear that the recommendation taken from the extension services department is associated with the agronomic practices availed by the farmers for improvement of groundnut. However, the same was found non significant in case of NGOs.

Table V Ranking of advice given by public extension services and NGOs to farmers. Ranking of Advice

Excellent Good Average Total Public sector 35(11.67%) 130(43.33%) 135(45.00%) 300 NGOs 50(16.67%) 170(56.67%) 80(26.67%) 300 Source = Survey; Chi-square = 99.69, p-value = 0.000

Farmers were greatly concerned with the advice given by the public and NGOs sector. About 11.67% ranked public extension services as excellent, while 16.67% termed NGOs services as excellent. So, we reject null hypothesis about the significance of advice given by the two departments or organizations. It suggests that the role in facilitating (advice) of public sector and NGOs can not be ignored.

CONCLUSION Both public and NGO’s sectors are playing important role in providing information, inputs recommendations of different crops “in their own perspective. But, farmers were satisfied with the working efficiency of NGOs regarding wheat and maize etc they were also getting benefits from the worth while advices and the help of public sector and NGO’s. The study revealed that an NGO has an edge over public sector on providing information's and inputs recommendations of different crops specially wheat and maize to the farmers. The farmers are getting benefits from the worthwhile advices and help of both public sector and NGO.

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