Privatization Of Agricultural Extension Services Research Articles

Farmers’ preferences for privatization of agricultural extension services

Farmers’ preferences for privatization of agricultural extension services

KNOWLEDGE OF FARMERS TOWARDS PRIVATIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES IN GANJAM DISTRICT OF ODISHA

A vast country like India cannot afford to ignore ever increasing role of PAES carried out by many individuals and agencies like Agricultural consultants, group of progressive farmers, mass media like newspapers, TV, agricultural magazines, non-government organizations, private sector banks etc. Today the challenge is not the same. Finding better market for surplus produced decides Indian agriculture. Limited rescores in extension compel to look for the support of other extension system, thus opened thinking on private extension. The present extension system has ultimatum for reshaping and strengthening the structural design for the delivery of agricultural technology and services as needed by the farming community. The study was conducted in Ganjam District of Odisha purposively for investigating socio-economic status and the association of independent variables with farmers’ knowledge towards Privatization of Agricultural Extension Services. Descriptive research design was used for the present study. A total of 120 respondents were selected purposively as a sample for the present investigation. The data was collected by using pre-tested schedule and analyzed using appropriate statistical tools. Karl Pearson’s Co-efficient of Correlation test was applied to find out the association between farmers knowledge with independent variables. The major findings of the study were the socio-economic status of the respondents was found to be of medium level, the knowledge of the respondents towards PAES had significant association with the Age, Annual income, Education, Land holding Mass Media Exposure, Extension contact, Risk orientation, and scientific orientation. From the study, it is clear that PAES has become essential in our country to increase the competitiveness in the world and give justice to our farmers. At the same time, it requires great caution about problems and constraints emerged in PAES. Keeping this points stated above the present study was undertaken in Ganjam district of Odisha with the following objectives: « To determine the socio-economic status of the respondents. « To ascertain the association between independent variables and knowledge of farmers towards Privatization of Agricultural Extension Service (PAES).

Smallholder farmers willingness to pay for privatized agricultural extension services in Tigray National Regional State, Ethiopia

This study assessed farmers’ willingness to pay for privatization of agricultural extension services and examined factors that determine willingness to pay for those services. Multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting 240 households. Data were collected using household survey, focus group discussion and key informant interview tools. Data were analyzed using percentage and logit model. Results showed that 58% of the respondents were willing to pay for the privatization of agricultural extension services. Farm size, age, family size, credit access, frequency of extension contact and income were significantly influenced farmers’ willingness to pay for privatization of agricultural extension services. Privatization of agricultural extension services encourages graduates of agricultural sciences to launch consultancy firms and this engenders professional entrepreneurship. Number of visits, socioeconomic, and institutional factors must be given emphasis for privatizing the agricultural extension service in Ethiopia. Moreover, government should launch privatization parallel to the public agricultural extension services
 Keywords: Agricultural extension service, willingness, privatization. Ethiopia

Knowledge of Farmers about Privatization of Agricultural Extension Services and the factors influencing it

The present study was carried out in five districts of Haryana during 2011–12. All the 200 farmers selected for the study had heard about privatization of agricultural extension services(PAES), gathered information regarding PAES, knew name and location of PAES and utilized PAES for agricultural purposes. They also knew that PAES provided different kinds of inputs like HYV, seedlings, fertilizers, crop protection, spray pumps, infrastructure facilities and value addition to crop produce. More than three-fourth (82.50%) of farmers had high level of knowledge towards PAES. Extension contact (0.198) and education (0.179) were highly significant and positively associated with the knowledge of farmers towards privatization of agricultural extension services. While other important variables like age, family type, occupation, land holding, cropping intensity, irrigation facilities, social participation, socio-economic status, mass media participation, economic motivation, risk preferenceand scientific orientation were positively associated but found non significant.

Attitude of farmers towards privatization of agricultural extension services

Haryana has become favourite destination for many private firms in recent times and they are getting involved in various farming aspects. This study tried to analyze the attitude of farmers toward privatization of agricultural extension services (PAES). The study was conducted during 2011–12 with 200 farmers to know their attitude towards private extension services for agricultural purposes. Results showed that majority of farmers had favourable attitude towards privatization of extension services followed by 32 per cent of more favourable attitude. Statement wise analysis of attitude revealed that majority of farmers agreed on positive statements on privatization while some negative statements had also got the good percentage of farmers. The study also revealed that socio economic status (SES) was significantly and positively correlated with attitude of farmers towards privatization of agricultural extension services. Whereas education, family type, land holding and extension contact were other variables which also found positive and significant relationship with the attitude of farmers.

Prospects and Challenges of Privatization of Agricultural Extension Service in Bangladesh

Globally there has been a growing interest towards the privatization of agricultural extension services. Privatization of extension service delivery is being considered for Bangladesh with a view to lower the government expenditures, to increase the efficiency of service delivery and to improve the quality of the extension services in changed circumstances on the part of the farmers. Farmers’ willingness to pay for the extension service in Bangladesh is still unknown. The lesson learned from the world review indicates that though some developed countries went for complete privatization of agricultural extension services, the most of the developing countries still remaining in the process of gradual privatization on a partly basis. Therefore, after critical analysis, this paper assumed some challenges of privatization of agricultural extension service delivery in Bangladesh. Despite the challenges, it is hoped that Bangladesh still has some prospects to adopt privatization of agricultural extension service if the recommended policy guidelines out lined in this paper are followed accordingly.

Socio-economic and Institutional Factors Influencing Farmers’ Perception of Privatization of Agricultural Extension Services in Kaduna State Nigeria

This study was determined farmers’ perception of privatization of agricultural extension services in Kaduna state. Socio-economic characteristics of farmers and the institutional factors influencing farmers’ perception towards the privatization of agricultural extension services were investigated. Two out of the four KADP zones were used for the study. A total of 80 constituted the sample size for the study. Descriptive (frequency and percentage) and Inferential (Tobit regression) statistical techniques were used for data analysis. The findings revealed that education (X2) and farmers’ awareness of extension privatization (X10) were positively significant to perception while age (X1), membership of cooperative (X8) and quality of extension service delivery (X9) were negatively significant to farmers’ perception of extension privatization to farmers. This finding suggests that farmers should be properly sensitized and well educated on issues concerning Extension privatization. This will actually expose them to know what privatization entails, including the benefits and advantages they can derive from the privatized extension practice. Key words: Agricultural extension services, privatization, socio-economic and institutional factors

Maize Farmers’ Perception of Commercialization and Privatization of Agricultural Extension Services in North Senatorial District of Gombe State, Nigeria

A survey of maize farmers in Gombe north senatorial district of Gombe state was conducted in 2010 on their perception on commercialization and privatization of agricultural extension services. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 100 maize farmers, which were randomly selected. Descriptive statistics and binary probit model were the tools of analyses. The results indicate that majority (83%) of the respondents were against commercialization and privatization of extension services. About 31% expressed willingness to pay economic rates only if qualitative and timely extension services would be provided. Moreover farm size, extension contact, educational level, membership of cooperative and access to credit were found significantly favouring commercialization and privatization of extension services. Additionally the main barriers to the acceptance of the idea by the farmers identified included high cost of other production inputs / low profit, poor quality of extension agents, high farmer -extension agent ratio and financial constraints. Therefore enhancing farmer’s accessibility to qualitative extension services and affordable credit will help in promoting the commercializing and privatizing process of agricultural extension activities.

Privatization of Agricultural Extension Services in Nigeria: A Fallacy?

Privatization of Agricultural Extension Services in Nigeria: A Fallacy?

Privatization of agricultural extension services in the EU: Towards a lack of adequate knowledge for small-scale farms?

Small-scale farming involves millions of households in the EU and plays an important role in the rural economy. A significant percentage of these farms produce commodities for the market. This productive dimension is often overlooked, however, as is the technical support needed by these farms. The privatization of national farm advisory systems (NFAS) has an impact on small-scale farming that should be better assessed. This paper, which looks at the characteristics of intangible services, helps demonstrate how the privatization of advisory services may have unexpected adverse effects on small farms. The dismantling of coordinating authorities has made these farms less visible as a target client. Less direct interaction with advisors makes it more difficult to co-produce knowledge that is relevant to their needs. In addition, back office activities such as scientific monitoring, building and updating databases and scientific experiments have been restructured in a way which does not support their interests.

The appropriate practices for supplying private extension services as perceived by Iran's extension experts of ministry of agriculture

Increased efficiency in extension delivery services has been viewed as a prerequisite for agricultural development. One of the policy options to minimize the constraints of the public extension has been the privatization of agricultural extension services. In Iranian context, considering the diverse needs of the commercial farmers and inadequacies of the public extension services for the small farmer, there is a necessity for searching suitable programs and practices related to private extension. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate and prioritize programs and practices of supplying private extension services to farmers, as perceived by Iranian agricultural extension specialists. A survey research was conducted using a questionnaire. The target population of the study encompassed 125 agricultural extension specialists of the ministry of agriculture. Based on these findings, prioritizing of the most important practices for supplying private extension services were: farmers extension organizations, private consultants and allocating subside to the farmers. Also, there was a significant difference between PhD and M.Sc respondents as to their perceptions to the appropriateness of the three aforementioned private extension practices. Key words: Privatization of agricultural extension, private extension services, extension strategies, Iran.

Willingness to Pay for a Fee-Based Extension Service by Tea Smallholders in Galle District

The agricultural extension service in Sri Lanka is generally considered as supply driven, and limitedly focused on farmers' aspirations and needs. The state services are also said to be inefficient and operating at a high cost. From the farmers' point of view it is an incomplete service provider. This has increased attention towards the potential for privatization of agricultural extension services. Therefore, this study was conducted with the objectives of analyzing the tea smallholders' willingness to pay (WTP) for a fee-based extension service and the factors affecting their WTP. A sample of 100 tea smallholders was randomly selected from four sub office areas under the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority, Galle. Primary data were collected through a pre-tested questionnaire. Open ended elicitation method was used to obtain the WTP and a probit regression model was used to analyze the factors affecting their WTP. Although 66% of the tea small holders have received extension services from the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority, only 42% of them have had services at the right time. A majority of the tea smallholders rely more on their own experience. Although 42% of the tea smallholders have indicated that they would like to have some other extension service, only 24% were willing to pay for such a service. The average WTP was Rs. 85.62 per month by a tea smallholder. According to the probit analysis, proportion of income had a significant positive influence and farming experience had a significant negative influence on the WTP. Based on the analysis it could be concluded that the tea small holders' in Galle district have a minimal interest towards a fee-based extension service and hence implementation of a private advisory service in the tea smallholding sector is not viable. DOI: 10.4038/sjae.v7i0.1824 <em>Sri Lankan Journal of Agricultural Economics</em>, Vol. 7, 2005 pp.68-84

Need For Privatization Of Agricultural Extension Services In Nigeria

The Federal Government of Nigeria has in the past been involved in too many enterprises which should have been left for private ownership. In line with current world trends of less government but more market intervention, the Federal Government is now encouraging privatization. This paper discussed the need for privatization of Agricultural extension services in Nigeria. It examined the objectives of the Federal Government privatization and commercialization programme, it examined the meaning and forms of privatization. The paper discussed three reasons why there is the need for privatization of Agricultural Extension Services in Nigeria and backed it with findings of two past studies on the need for privatization of extension services in Nigeria.

Search for Better Institutional Arrangements for Agricultural Extension Services in a Decentralized Context: The Republic of Benin

The process of decentralisation and privatization of agricultural extension services in Benin must take into account important issues such as the news actors, including agricultural producer organisations, private sector and NGOs, the reduction in the power of high level extension administration, active participation or stakeholders in the financing of extension service, financial and technical assistance from the State, particularly for resource-limited communes, institutional changes that are adapted to both decentralisation context and local management capacity. In the new decentralised system, agricultural extension needs to be flexible and avoid hierarchical structures Most of the staff should be in the communes and should be oriented towards enhancing the capacity of farmers and the elected local governments to participate in the process of solving their problems and reach their development objectives, including financing of agricultural extension services. To achieve all this, adequate decisionmaking power and resources for extension activities should be transferred to commune level. The experience from Benin indicates the difficulties African countries in general, and Benin in particular, will face when trying to better tune extension activities to local needs.