Extension Field Staff Research Articles

Assessing the role of plant clinic advisory services in plant health improvement in Chakwal district Punjab

Plant clinic (plant-wise) is a global catalog that Punjab Agriculture Extension is currently implementing to reduce crop losses to improve food security and rural incomes. Plant clinics provide farmers with information that obligates them to lose less of their produce due to pest and disease outbreaks. Plant clinics are held once a week in a village where farmers come to get advice on crops under the protection of a shade. The goal of the desk monitoring was to assess the overall execution and the assistance provided by this initiative. The study covered the district Chakwal, and 225 total participants were randomly selected for data collection in the research area. The data was collected by a well-structured interview schedule consisting of closed-ended and open-ended questions to maintain the quality regarding farmers' perceptions of plant clinics. After data collection, it was analyzed by using SPSS. Descriptive statistical analysis, including frequencies, averages and percentages was undertaken. The results show that 55.6% of the respondents belonged to middle aged. About 60.0% work as private jobs, 44.0% attained matric level education and 60/0% of them were living in a nuclear family. According to 100.0% of the respondents, the plant clinic was providing services about disease management, pest control resources, and integrated pest management. All (100.0%) the respondents reported that extension field staff teaches them methods of weed control, pest identification, fungal and bacteria identification through plant clinic. About 66.7% of the respondents learned the manure application from plant clinic activities. According to 100.0% of the respondents, disease identification and control of the disease were very important. All (100.0%) of the respondents never visited the plant clinic daily. All (100.0%) of them communicated with office calls. The vast majority (90.2%) of the respondents contacted the plant clinic through the farm visit. The majority (82.2%) of respondents disclosed that crop production increased up to 25% with the adoption of the plant clinic services advises. The majority (82.2%) of plant clinics are working with value addition. All (100.0%) of the respondents had awareness about the disease’s services, pest identification & control, seed verities recommendation, and spraying technique services. About all (98.2%) of them also stated that they had increased awareness about the fertilizer’s application services from the plant clinic. The majority (82.7%) of the respondents enhanced awareness about the disease’s services, pest identification & control, seed varieties recommendation, and spraying technique services.

The Mastery of Extension Field Staff (EFS): Unveiling Their Expertise in Crop Management Practices

The Mastery of Extension Field Staff (EFS): Unveiling Their Expertise in Crop Management Practices

Farmers Preferred Information Sources Regarding Climate Change Awareness in Mountainous Areas of Punjab, Pakistan

Climate change is one of the key challenges having adverse impacts on agriculture, which is the key source of food and livelihood. Information is a critical component in the process of climate risk management. Therefore, this study was conducted in mountainous areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to explore the preferred information sources of the farmers to cope the climate change. A total of 384 farmers were interviewed face to face on a structured interview schedule from District Rawalpindi of Punjab and Mansehra of KPK. Collected data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results indicated that farmers had more reliance on electronic media gadgets for information seeking as least on social media gadgets. Fellow farmers and extension field staff were also rated as the preferred information sources of the farmers. This was deduced that farmers were emphasizing n traditional sources rather than modern tools of communication like social media. There is a need to promote the use of social media tools for information sharing for climate change awareness. Social media tools have the potential to meet the information needs of the farmers and have diverse contents to disseminate about climate change. Extension field staff should use social media gadgets for information dissemination among the farmers.

Analyzing the Usefulness of Demonstration Plots as Perceived by the Farmers in District Faisalabad, Pakistan

Agricultural extension is the driver of motivation of farmers towards the adoption of agricultural innovations. Therefore, different extension methods are employed to enhance the effectiveness of extension services and bring change in farmers' behaviour. In this study, an attempt is made to explore the use of demonstration plots as perceived by the farmers in district Faisalabad. In this study, a total of 130 randomly selected farmers, five Agriculture Officers (AOs) and five Field Assistants (FAs) participated. From the farmers, data were collected through face-to-face interview techniques on a structured and validated interview schedule whereas from the extension field staff, the data were collected on an interview guide. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and qualitative data were analysed using a content analysis approach. Qualitative results indicated that the demonstration plots helped farmers to change their behaviour from a traditional farming approach to a modern approach of farming for more production and profits. Group discussion, method and result demonstration methods were focused areas while demonstrating technologies at the demonstration plot. Farmers found demonstration plots useful for the reasons of being active, cooperation from the extension staff, equal treatment to the farmers, participation of farmers in group meetings, enhanced learning and motivating farmers to adopt the latest technologies. Considering the usefulness, there is a need to enhance the number of demonstration plots. More research studies are also recommended to be conducted in other districts of the Punjab s well to investigate the further room for improvement and strengthen the extension services for farmers.

Training Need Assessment of rice farmers regarding weeds and their management in Punjab, Pakistan

The training needs of rice growers in Punjab, Pakistan were assessed regarding the production technology used in growing rice. Total 332 rice growers were selected through random sampling technique from tehsil Nowshera Virkan, district Gujranwala and interviewed accordingly through a face-to-face interview technique. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings indicated that farmers had adequate awareness about the weeds and their management. The demonstration was the most effective technique as used by the extension field staff to create awareness among farmers about weeds management. Social media and electronic media use were appeared least effective. This indicates that farmers were more convenient with the traditional technique of creating awareness. Regarding training needs, Rice farmers had maximum training needs regarding chemical control and identification of rice weeds. Resourceful, cost-effective, and timely weed management options are pivotal to making rice crop profitable. Thus, Agriculture Department, Punjab should be aimed at empowering the rice farmers technically, to train them through both conventional approaches (i.e. demonstration plots) and technology-led approaches (i.e. Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), social media and electronic media).

Farmers’ Perception Regarding Training Programs being held by EFS related to Agricultural Demonstration Plots in Tehsil Samundari, Faisalabad

The heart of the study was to test out the usefulness of demonstration plots and reveal improvement in agricultural activities. Moreover, the objectives of the study were to focus on the training session being held by EFS during demonstrations and to identify the farmers' perceived effectiveness regarding agricultural technologies gained through demonstration plots. This study was carried out in Tehsil Samundari District Faisalabad. The population of the study comprises all farmers’ who have got training sessions regarding Demonstration plots. A sample frame of 310 farmers was constructed by enlisting those farmers; who attend training sessions regarding demonstration plots was obtained from the agriculture department. The sample size of the study was 120 farmers. To collect the required information, an interview schedule was developed. The data were analyzed with the help of SPSS (statistical package for social sciences. Farm visits and lectures were the approach or teaching method which was mostly used for training farmers while demonstration, brainstorming and group assignment were least used by extension field staff (EFS) during a training session.

Analyzing Precision Agriculture Adoption across the Globe: A Systematic Review of Scholarship from 1999–2020

Precision agriculture (PA) is a holistic, sustainable, innovative systems approach that assists farmers in production management. Adopting PA could improve sustainable food security and community economic sustainability. Developing an understanding of PA adoption attributes is needed in order to assist extension practitioners to promote adoption and better understand the innovation adoption phenomena. A systematic review of literature was conducted to investigate attributes that foster PA adoption. Thirty-three publications were examined, and four themes were found among the reviewed publications. The results were interpreted using Rogers’ diffusion of innovations framework to address the research objectives. Relative advantage and compatibility were two dominant attributes needed to strengthen the adoption of PA, and the complexity attribute was rarely communicated to promote the adoption of PA. The systematic review indicated the rate of farmer’s PA adoption does not occur at the highest potential levels due to inadequate communication of PA attributes from change agents to farmers. Extension field staff need professional development in communicating the five PA adoption attributes to farmers in order to improve PA adoption and enhance local sustainable food security. Thus, authors recommend future complexity studies from agricultural extension specialists’ perspectives to comprehend demonstratable approaches to motivate farmers’ adoption of PA.

Transhumant pastoralist knowledge of infectious diseases and adoption of alternative land use strategies in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan (HKH) region of Pakistan

Pastoralists’ awareness of infectious disease outbreaks depends on their socioeconomic characteristics and considerably affects their land use strategies. This study aimed to identify the factors that affect transhumant communities’ awareness of recently emerged Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in humans and foot and mouth disease (FMD) in animals. This study also investigated the key factors that govern the adoption of alternative land use strategies by nonmigrating transhumants to avoid seasonal migration in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan (HKH) region of Pakistan. To link the awareness of disease spread to the adoption of alternative land use strategies, a focus group discussion and a socioeconomic survey were conducted in the study area. A total of 300 households were randomly selected from a nonmigrating transhumant community. The results of the binary logit model showed that landholding size, good relationships with extension field staff, and extension contact were positively related, whereas household education was negatively related to pastoralists’ awareness of infectious disease outbreaks. In the case of adopting alternative strategies to avoid future long-distance migration, our model showed that pastoralists’ awareness of infectious disease outbreaks significantly and positively affected pastoralists’ adoption of these strategies. The other variables that were positively associated with the pastoralists’ adoption of these strategies included good relationships with extension field staff, household size and primary dependence on pastoral-based livelihood, whereas the education level of the head of the household, lack of financial resources and disputes over agricultural lands/forests were negatively associated with the pastoralists’ adoption of these strategies. We conclude that to avoid infectious disease spread and promote adoption of alternative strategies, the government should pay attention to creating awareness among transhumant communities. Communicating the latest scientific research on infectious disease outbreaks and effective control measures that are translated in an understandable (pictographic) manner could be an effective policy intervention.

Perceptions of extension field staff regarding coping with the climatic impacts on wheat crop in rural areas of Punjab

Climate change is a global phenomenon and it has changed the landscape of global agriculture. Wheat is a globally acknowledged crop that is also influenced by climate change around the world. Wheat is a staple crop for Pakistan and recent development confirms that wheat is under huge pressure due to climate change. In this study, an attempt is made to consolidate the perceptions of the extension field staff about the impacts of climate change on wheat crops in district Sargodha of Punjab. Total 80, agriculture officers (AOs) and Field Assistants (FAs) working in public sector extension were chosen and interviewed face to face on a structured questionnaire. Findings indicate that lodging in wheat (x̅=2.26), increase in pests (x̅=2.202) and diseases (x̅=2.02) were the major impact of climate change on wheat crop. Increase precipitation (100%) and increase in temperature (77.5%) were the leading climatic indicators posing threats to the wheat crop. Aphids (95%) and yellow rust (87.5%) caused a reduction in yield as the result of climatic changes. All respondents (100%) suggested the adoption of raised bed plantations of wheat to cope with climate change. Farmers should be connected with the weather updated and public and private sector extension should diffuse the wheat production technology among farmers considering the climatic changes.

Competencies possessed by the training professionals of agricultural training institutes in Punjab, Pakistan

Professional competencies are considered as key to perform job responsibilities. Training professionals of Agricultural Training Institutes (ATIs) are engaged in imparting various skills and expertise to extension field staff in the form of training so that they would perform their tasks and responsibilities in a better way to disseminate advanced agricultural knowledge. In this scenario, the present study was designed to investigate various competencies possessed by the training professionals of ATIs in the Punjab province of Pakistan. For this purpose, data was collected from all training professionals working in all ATIs of Punjab Province in Pakistan. A well-structured questionnaire was developed as an instrument of the study. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, means and standard deviations were applied through Statistical Packages for Social Sciences. Results reveal that training professional of ATIs possess computer skill especially MS word and email skills. Motivational skills, lecture delivery skills and communication skills were ranked at top, which are being possessed by training professionals. Moreover, the results recommend that the government should launch capacity building programs to develop professional competencies of training professionals on regular basis.

Factors impeding the adoption of weed management practices in four cropping systems of the Punjab, Pakistan

This study was conducted in district Gujranwala with the major objective to identify factors impeding the awareness level and adoption of weed management practices among the farmers from Rice-Wheat, Rice-Potato, Rice-Maize and Rice-Peas cropping systems. Total 356 farmers, selected through the proportionate sampling technique from four cropping systems participated in the study. Data were collected through a structured and validated questionnaire through a face-to-face interview technique and analyzed with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings indicated that, inadequate resources, knowledge and limited exposure to the information sources were the factors influencing the awareness level among farmers across the four cropping systems Shortage of finance, high cost of inputs, high cost of diesel and possession of inadequate knowledge were the barriers impeding adoption level. This study suggests that, in order to create awareness and foster the adoption of recommended weed management technologies to further curb the yield losses, the Extension Field Staff should strive to build technical knowledge among farmers through diversified teaching activities. The Integration of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) could help EFS to meet farmers information needs. Furthermore, public-private partnership is also recommended especially for the effective weeds’ management on farm level.

Comparative effectiveness of agricultural advisory services rendered by public and private sectors in the Punjab, Pakistan

Public and private extension sectors are meant to effectively disseminate agricultural technologies among farmers in order to improve the living standards of farmers through adoption of site specific and improved technologies. This study was conducted in 2018 to explore the effectiveness of Agricultural Advisory Service rendered by the public and private sectors in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Total 400 farmers selected from the two tehsils (sub-districts) of Multan District were interviewed through the face-to-face interview technique on a structured and pre-tested interview schedule. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the collected data. T-test was the key technique used to compare the two sectors. The results show that one-fourth (25.5%) of respondents had acquaintance with the Extension Field Staff (EFS) of the private sector as compared to 15.5% of respondents knowing about the public sector EFS by face only. Regarding contact, one-fifth (19.9%) of the respondents made a contact with the EFS of public sector twice a month while in contrast, more than half (53.1%) of respondents contacted EFS of private sector twice a month. The performance of the public sector (x̅=2.50±1.902) regarding the safe use of pesticides was comparatively better than private sector (x̅ =2.08±1.824). Farmers were more satisfied with the private sector in context of getting advisory services about harvesting of crops (x̅ =1.88±1.604) as compared to the public sector (x̅ =1.62±1.597). Study concluded that services provided by private EFS were comparatively effective as compared to public sector for many reasons. The study urges more development and institutionalization to the public sector in order to improve the performance of the public sector in best interest of farming communities.

Self-perceived Constraints of Extension Field Staff Affecting their Working Efficiency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Self-perceived Constraints of Extension Field Staff Affecting their Working Efficiency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Comparative effectiveness of agricultural advisory services rendered by public and private sectors in the Punjab, Pakistan

Public and private extension sectors are meant to effectively disseminate agricultural technologies among farmers in order to improve the living standards of farmers through adoption of site specific and improved technologies. This study was conducted in 2018 to explore the effectiveness of Agricultural Advisory Service rendered by the public and private sectors in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Total 400 farmers, purposively selected from the two tehsils (sub-districts) of Multan District were interviewed through the face-to-face interview technique on a structured and pre-tested interview schedule. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the collected data. T-test was the key technique used to compare the two sectors. The results show that one-fourth (25.5%) of respondents had acquaintance with the Extension Field Staff (EFS) of the private sector as compared to 15.5% of respondents knowing about the public sector EFS by face only. Regarding contact, one-fifth (19.9%) of the respondents made a contact with the EFS of public sector twice a month while in contrast, more than half (53.1%) of respondents contacted EFS of private sector twice a month. The performance of the public sector (x̅=2.50±1.902) regarding the safe use of pesticides was comparatively better than private sector (x̅ =2.08±1.824). Farmers were more satisfied with the private sector in context of getting advisory services about harvesting of crops (x̅ =1.88±1.604) as compared to the public sector (x̅ =1.62±1.597). Study concluded that services provided by private EFS were comparatively effective as compared to public sector for many reasons. The study urges more development and institutionalization to the public sector in order to improve the performance of the public sector in best interest of farming communities.

Influence of Selected Institutional and Technological Factors on the Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Technologies in Maize Farming in Mzimba South, Malawi

Sustainable Agriculture Technologies (SATs) significantly contribute to addressing the negative effects of land degradation, poor soil health and climate variability in the agriculture sector. Despite efforts made by different stakeholders in promoting SATs to improve maize productivity in Mzimba South in Malawi, the adoption of the technologies among small-scale farmers remains unsatisfactory. As a result, most of the farmers continue to realize low maize yields. A survey was conducted from July to September 2019 to investigate the influence of selected institutional and technological factors on the adoption of SATs in maize farming among the small-scale farmers in Mzimba South. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a representative sample of 132 small-scale maize farming household heads. Data was collected using a researcher-administered questionnaire. Multivariate probit, ordered probit and ordinary least square (OLS) models were applied to determine the influence of the selected factors on the adoption of SATs at α level of .05 using STATA and SPSS. Qualitative data was analyzed by a deductive approach, in which responses were categorized and summarized under the related themes. The study established that the adoption of SATs was significantly influenced by membership in farmer organizations (FOs), access to extension services, and the levels of relative advantage and complexity associated with the SATs. The findings of the study implied that the Government of Malawi and relevant stakeholders in the agriculture sector need to train and recruit more extension field staff to improve coverage and frequency of extension services delivery on sustainable agriculture. The stakeholders should also promote affiliation of the small-scale farmers to FOs to improve access to agricultural extension services and production resources on sustainable farming. In addition, efforts should be made to develop and promote affordable mechanization options for reducing farm drudgery associated with the implementation of SATs. Furthermore, the Government of Malawi should facilitate the formulation, enactment, and enforcement of local by-laws for safeguarding the SATs and their related inputs (or raw materials) against vandalism, livestock damage, and bushfires.

English

Sugarcane industry is at second position after textile industry in Pakistan. By the export of refined sugar, it plays a significant role in the economy of the country. Public and private sectors extension field staff work with sugarcane growers to improve their per acre yield. The research was conducted to compare and identify the services provided by those two sectors. A total of 150 respondents were selected randomly and interviewed to collect data through a structured interview schedule. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS). It was revealed that private sector provided commodity services such as improved sugarcane seed more than the public sector. However, public sector provided agriculture machinery on subsidized basis whereas private sector did not have any of such facility but was ahead in providing the advocacy services, arranging trainings/workshops, paying farm/home visits, organizing method demonstrations and arranging agricultural fares (Kissan Mellas) for farmers due to better funding. However, Agri. Helpline calls system of public sector was found more effective. Key words: Extension services, sugarcane, extension field staff (EFS), public sector and private sector.  

CONTROLLING COMMON BEAN WHITE MOULD CAUSED BY Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary

A study was conducted in the Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2007. A sample of 408 farmers was selected randomly through multistage sampling from the Punjab. Data were collected through personal interviews following validated interview schedule. Competencies of extension field staff (EFS) of private agricultural extension system was measured on 4 points scale. On measuring scale, mean value of 1 represents great weakness, 2 represents weakness, 3 represents strength and 4 represents great strength of the system. Farmers rated overall competencies of EFS regarding knowledge, attitude and skills at the mean values of 2.09, 2.17 and 2.37 with standard deviations of 0.77, 0.84 and 0.88, respectively. This reflect the overall weaknesses of private extension system. Competency regarding attributes was rated at 2.70 with standard deviation 0.73, which reveals the trend toward strength of the system.

An Assessment of In-service Training Needs for Agricultural Extension Field Staff in the Scenario of Climate Change using Borich Needs Assessment Model

An Assessment of In-service Training Needs for Agricultural Extension Field Staff in the Scenario of Climate Change using Borich Needs Assessment Model

Data Literacy for Employees of Agriculture Service in Pangandaran Regency, West Java Province [Literasi Data Bagi Para Penyuluh Pertanian Di Kabupaten Pangandaran Provinsi Jawa Barat

Pangandaran District is a new district in West Java Province, established in 2013. The condition of the government is still in pioneering, some government institutions are still joining the original district, namely Ciamis District. This condition causes the Department of Agriculture in Pangandaran to have difficulty in providing the data. In addition to this situation, the department felt that the difficulties in data collection were due to the lack of understanding of the extension agents and field staff on the importance of data for regional development. Besides that, the agency needs agricultural data to determine the planning and direction of government policies in the agricultural sector. Therefore the agriculture department will the data literacy activities for its employees, its hope all employees to understand the scope of statistics, the importance of data and the Farmer’s Terms of Trade (FTT). The form of this activity is a one-day seminar with presentations and discussions methods. The result of this activity, participants can understand about statistics and data, all participants and field workers to develop it as part of them as data that is a very strategic part. Second, participants who are able to understand FTT as a measure of performance from the Agriculture Department, therefore the department will produce FTT.

Snapshot of public and private agricultural extension services in balochistan: an approaches for the discipline

Present study was examined the perceived limiting factors within agriculture extension system in Balochistan, Pakistan. One hundred (100) Extension Field Staff (EFS) were selected by using simple random sampling technique for the present study form the public and private extension services. A research instrument based on 5-point Likert scale was used so as to acquire the information from the EFS. Nonparametric Statistics i.e. Mann and Whitney’s U Test (1947) as appropriate between dual groups was calculated so as to find out the relationships between variables that have significance differences at p.005. The results depicted that significant differences were found 4 out of 10 categories regarding the extension teaching methods therefore, null hypothesis 1 was rejected. Further, ten (10) statements observed to found statistical non-significant at all regarding sources of information. Hence, the HO2 was accepted in the favor of alternate hypothesis. Based on aforementioned outcomes following recommendations put-forward. Dissemination of improved and useful information’s to the farmers are the vivid encouragement tools and energizer trends about crop production dynamics in this regard, it is therefore suggested that, extension teaching methods (individuals and groups contact methods) such as demonstration plots, farm visits, home visits, uses audio-visual media, seminar, campaigns, workshops, trainings should be arranged at districts and province level so that activate the entire agricultural extension system. Active crop maximization approach should be implemented in preliminary stages in order to increases the income generations and livelihood options of the farmers.