IMPACT OF PUBLIC EXTENSION SERVICES FOR EFFECTIVE WEED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN WHEAT-MAIZE CROPPING PATTERN IN FAISALABAD PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Weeds infestation is one of the major bottlenecks for higher productivity and responsible for considerable grain losses up to 18% in Wheat and 10-60% in Maize crop. Weeds are problematic because of their faster growth and competition for use of natural resources. To ascertain the impact of different public extension services working for improvement of farmer’s knowledge to effective weed management in wheat-maize cropping pattern present was conducted in district Faisalabad. Results of present study evaluated that a vast majority (64.7%) of farmers were familiar with farm and home visit, (46.3%) farmers were known to telephone call and less than one fifth (12.5%) were conversant with office call in individual contact extension services. Meanwhile only (1.5%) farmers were aware with personal letter as a public extension service. In group contact methods more than one fourth (40%) were conscious with farmer day and field day but a meager percentage (2.2%) were known to buzz group and brain storming extension services in reference to effective weeds control. Almost (75%) farmers were recognized with television, mobile phone and fellow farmers as a beneficial agricultural extension services. Majority of farmers were aware about pesticide dealers as a first source of information. According to mean value (2.00) individual contact method was tending between very low to low rates of effectiveness for proper weeds management. Almost (50%) farmers were satisfied with group contact methods as an effective public extension services. Mobile phone was considered most helpful method for obtaining proper information related to weeds control having (3.40) mean value in present research. After getting these types of results it was suggested that provision of the relevant information and awareness regarding effective weeds management may only be ensured if a combination of different contact methods is brought under implementation comprehensively. Language barriers must need to be minimized while contacting the farmers and command over local language and terms is one of the major ways forward in this regard. However further studies are required to investigate the rate of effectiveness of local herbicides.