Effectiveness of Agricultural Extension Services in Reducing Poverty of Apple Growers of District Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Effectiveness of Agricultural Extension Services in Reducing Poverty of Apple Growers of District Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Sana Javeid* and Khalid Nawab
ABSTRACT
The current research study was conducted to determine poverty levels of apple orchard growers and association of different extension services with poverty in district Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K). Primary data from 306 respondents were collected using multistage simple random sampling techniques. The data were collected using an interview schedule; analysis were carried out by using cross-tabulation, frequency counts, percentages through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). To measure the poverty level of apple orchard growers, poverty score card was employed. In addition, bivariate analysis was used to examine relationship between various extension practices and poverty. Results of the study revealed that majority (60.1%) of the respondents were non-poor, out of which 90.8% received extension services. Furthermore, out of the non-poor category, 58.7% were visited by the extension agents occasionally. However, 27.2% were contacted by holding group meetings and 25% through home/farm visits. Likewise, 49.5% from non-poor category were empowered in the course of community empowerment and 66.8% attended trainings arranged by extension agents. In addition, out of all poor categories least number of growers (4.9%) were found extremely poor and 10.5% in the transitory non-poor category. The association of extension services, visits paid by the extension agents, extension contact methods, strategies and trainings showed significant relationship with poverty. Hence, it is recommended that efforts are needed to regularize all extension activities for poverty reduction in the study area.
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