Exploring the Technical Competencies of Extension Field Workers as Perceived by Farmers in Selected Areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Exploring the Technical Competencies of Extension Field Workers as Perceived by Farmers in Selected Areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Syed Muhammad1*, Badar Naseem Siddiqui2, Farhat Ullah Khan1, Muhammad Adnan3, Sami Ullah3 and Nawab Khan4
ABSTRACT
Technically competent public agricultural extension field staff plays a vital role in increasing productivity by dissemination of modern agricultural production technology to the farmers. Main objective of the existing study was to understand the technical competencies possessed by public agricultural extension field workers (EFS) in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan.Data were collected through a validated and pre-tested structured questionnaire from 300 randomly selected farmers of five districts of KP (namely Karak, Swabi, Mardan, Upper Dir and Charsadda), and all public extension field Staff (field assistants (FAs) and Agriculture Officers (AOs) working in the above areas constituted the sample respondents.Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS). The results showed that the technical competency of FAs remained in between low and high categories with mean values ranging from 2.45 to 3.80. Similarly, the technical competency of AOs was in between low and very high categories with mean values ranging from 2.88 to 4.07. The FAs were comparatively more competent in fertilizer application (mean 3.80), sowing (mean 3.76) and irrigation (mean 3.74). At other hand, the AOs were found more competent in sowing and fertilizer application (mean 4.07). Both FAs and AOs were observed technically least competent in weeds control, insects/pests identification and their control. Findings of this study recommend that the EFS should be enabled technically more competent in all spheres by arranging proper trainings for technical efficiency in order to increase agricultural productivity and subsequently the socio-economic status of the rural community of the KP province.
To share on other social networks, click on any share button. What are these?
