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Int. J. Agric. Appl. Sci. Vol. 7, No.2, 2015
POLICY CHALLENGES TO AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SYSTEM IN PAKISTAN: A REVIEW Muhammad Yaseen,* Xu Shiwei, Yu Wen, and Sadia Hassan** Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CAAS), No. 12 Zhongguancun South Street, 100081 Beijing, China * Department of Agricultural Extension & Rural Development，UCA, University of Sargodha, Pakistan ** Institute of Vegetable & Flowers, CAAS, No. 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing 100081, China Corresponding author’s e-mail:
[email protected] ABSTRACT The main objective of this review paper was to investigate different research studies to address and summarize the agricultural extension related issues in Pakistan. After reviewing different research articles, it is synthesized that professional and technical competencies of extension/outreach staff (commonly known as extension worker) are not up to the mark according to the needs and demands of rural community. The current agricultural extension system in the country is under heavy pressure and criticism being outdated and pathetic. In these circumstances there is need to develop agricultural extension policies to revitalize the agricultural extension system Pakistan. The main obstacles, which are being faced by Extension Field Staff (EFS) in the country are insufficient funds, non-availability of proper transportation service to approach the farmer, large jurisdiction area of frontline extension worker i.e. Agriculture Officer (AO) and lack of strong bonding and cooperation among allied departments. There is need to develop strong integration of public and private agricultural extension service providers address the real issues of farming community. Moreover, research, education and extension linkage need to be strengthened for better communication and sustainable agricultural development in the country. Key words: extension system, advisory services, extension policy, dilemmas, competencies INTRODUCTION The economy of Pakistan is heavily depends upon agriculture like other developing countries. This sector contributes 20.9% in the entire GDP of the country and is a source of livelihood for 43.5 % of the rural population (Govt. of Pakistan, 2015). In-spite of its significance at national and individual household level, the average yield of major field crops (wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane and maize) is fluctuated and not up to the satisfactory level especially during the last few years (State Bank of Pakistan, 2014). The reported fluctuation in the major field crops is largely influenced by the agricultural extension services provided by public sector. The reason behind this factor is that mainly public sector extension is responsible for providing latest and up-to-date rural advisory and extension services at the door steps of farming community. In the whole country agricultural extension is administered by provincial governments. The general purpose of agricultural extension system being implanted by each of the provincial government is to provide response/feedback from research stations to address the agricultural based technological needs of the farmers (APO 2001). The current review paper aims to propose directions to device agricultural extension policy and some policy implications to reinforce the existing agricultural information delivery mechanism so that objectives of sustainable agricultural and rural development can easily be achieved. The said paper is divided into five major portions: 1st portion gives an overview of the
different agricultural extension systems in Pakistan since its inception in 1947. The 2nd portion elaborates the constraints and major challenges faced by agricultural extension workers. The 3rd portion gives an insight into different agricultural extension methodologies being used by Extension Field Staff to deliver latest and up-t-date agricultural technologies to the farmers. The 4th portion explains different outreach/agricultural extension activities rendered by private sector related to crop production, protection and livestock management. The 5th portion of this paper suggests some policy options to strengthen the agricultural extension system in the country and also to integrate/coordinate the line departments (all the major stakeholders). OVERVIEW OF VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SYSTEMS IN PAKISTAN Since independence in 1947 till 1962 in Pakistan there was no separate wing to carry out extension and outreach activities. During this period (1947-1962) the teaching staff of Agricultural College, Faisalabad, Pakistan was mainly responsible to carry out agricultural extension activities besides research and teaching activities at college. In 1962 West Pakistan Agriculture University Lyallpur (presently University of Agriculture Faisalabad) was established and agricultural education wing was unglued from agricultural extension and research wing. At the same time agricultural extension wing was established under the administrative control of each provincial government in Pakistan and Secretary Agriculture, is primarily act as a head of all wings of Agricultural Department including Agricultural Extension (Inayat, 2007). Since the inception of Pakistan, different
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Yasin et al. agricultural extension cum rural development programs was initiated during different regimes in the country. The 1st agricultural extension program was started in 1952 with the name Village Agricultural & Industrial Development Program (V-AID) and was abolished in 1962. After V-AID a new program Basic Democracies System was started in 1959 and terminated in 1970. During this period new program was initiated by the then political government with the name Rural Works Program (RWP). However, that program was also terminated by the new political government in 1972. The new government changed its name to People’s Works Program (PWP). In 1971 Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) was launched with the aim to integrate different extension and research activities, but unfortunately IRDP was also terminated in 1977. Besides IRDP Barani Area Development Program (BADP) was started in 1975 to develop Barani/ rain fed areas on sustainable basis and that program was also goes to an end in 1977. All the agricultural extension/rural development plans or programs was abolished due to one or many reasons. The major reasons behind the termination of above mentioned programs during different regimes was lack of coordination among line or allied departments, shortage of motivated trained technical field staff, shortage of sufficient monetary resources, low participation level by the local farmers as well as local leadership in rural development and agricultural extension plans, corruption at all levels (Luqman et al., 2013). In 1978 the Traditional Agricultural Extension System was replaced by Training and Visit (T&V) System. The T&V system was also passes away by the same fate in 1999. In Traditional Agricultural Extension System the major weakness was the lack of coordination among research and extension staff. Similarly T&V System also had many weaknesses like repetition of extension messages over a long period of time, bias in the selection of contact farmers, minimum use of modern teaching methodologies in delivering agricultural extension technologies to the farmers (Abbas et al., 2009). Technical Competencies of Extension Field Staff Professional and technical competencies of agricultural extension field staff i.e. Extension Field Staff (EFS) play a significant role in agricultural development in the country besides capacity building of the rural farming community. On the other hand in Pakistan like other developing countries, the technical competencies of EFS were not up to satisfactory level (Khan, et al., 2012a). The same was also reported by Masud et al., (2011), who concluded that competencies of EFS regarding agricultural extension program planning and use of
Int. J. Agric. Appl. Sci. Vol. 7, No.2, 2015 audio visual aids for efficient delivery of extension messages were not up to the mark. The competencies of EFS were at alarming stage in the field of farm machinery and power and in computer skills as reported by Khan et al., (2011 and 2008). Agricultural extension workers face a number of problems while working in the field and doing agricultural extension work. Such issues not only create problems in delivering agricultural extension messages to the farmers but also mark extension workers as sluggish. The major problems which are being faced by extension staff are; non availability of offices and lack of instructional facilities at field level, inadequate linkages between education, research and extension at institutional level, minimum use of ICTs, low educational level of farmers and small land holding possessed by the farmers. The connection between extension workers and farming community is also very weak. EFS seldom visit the field of farmers and to hold meetings with them to know about their problems and concerns. Due to the weak linkage between farmers and extension staff, the majority of the farming community is used to adopt conventional agricultural technologies of crops, fruits and vegetables. The adoption of conventional practices by farmers leads to low average production of crops, fruits and vegetables and also in terms of quality. That gives low financial return to farmers (Shahbaz et al., 2010). In order to bridge the yield gaps of major crops, fruits and vegetables a variety of agricultural extension methodologies and approaches are being used by the extension field staff. But none of them gave the satisfactory results due to many reasons like political instability and political involvement in public sector extension system, involvement of bureaucracy in the system, lack of trained agricultural extension personals, and insufficient harmony among line departments and reluctance of farmers in adopting new agricultural technologies (Abbas et al., 2009). There is dire need to revitalize and to develop agricultural extension system in Pakistan on modern scientific lines to achieve the targets of sustainable agricultural development (Davidson et al., 2001). Agricultural Information Sources, Extension Methods and Approaches In Pakistan EFS use a number of methods and agricultural information sources to reach the poor farming community and to address their issues. Most commonly used information sources of farmers are print & electronic media, fellow farmers, staff of pesticide and other private agricultural extension agencies (seed and fertilizer companies) and extension personals of public sector extension as reported by many researchers (see Rehman et al., (2013): Kumbhar et al., (2012): Khooharo et al., (2008); Arfan et al., (2013) and many others. The most common methods being used by EFS to transfer up-to-date agricultural technologies to the farmers are
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Yasin et al. field demonstrations, visit to the farm of farmers, training meetings, discussion meetings, farmer’s field school (FFS) sessions etc. as reported by different research scientists like Khatam et al., (2013); Lodhi et al., (2006); Khan and Akram, (2012); Arshad et al., (2012). Out of aforementioned methods, FFS meetings are considered as the most effective method to educate and train the farmers regarding crop management practices under state-led (public sector) agricultural extension system (Nosheen et al., 2010). Regarding impacts of FFS Khatam et al., (2010) concluded that it brings positive constructive changes in the behaviour of farming community towards the adoption of latest agricultural technologies. Moreover, FFS played an important role in improving different aspects of rural community welfare; it enhances the decision making capability of farmers and to accomplish sustainable agriculture and rural development (Muhammad et al., 2013), and also to improve farming skills of farmers (Siddiqui and Siddiqui, 2012). Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Rendered By Private Sector The performance of public sector agricultural extension in Pakistan is very much similar to other developing countries as elaborated in the preceding section, which is unsatisfactory and not upto the mark. In these circumstances besides public sector, private sector is also performing and involved in number of agricultural extension and advisory services/outreach activities (Ali et al., 2011b). The farming community interested more to get agricultural related information from personals of private agencies like technical and field staff of pesticide, insecticide, fertilizer and seed agencies. Majority of the farmers have the view that agricultural information delivered by staff of private extension agents is found to be more suitable, specific and valuable for them, more fit in our social and economic circumstances (ibid). Many of the young agricultural graduates are more interested to seek job in private sector, as they attract the young people through a number of incentives (Riaz, 2010). These graduates are very much proficient in technical as well as professional competencies related to knowledge, skills and attitudes (Ali et al., 2011a). In addition to their role in agricultural development in the country, the debate regarding services provided by private sector to the farming community is still underway. Many people assume that private sector is only interested in selling their products instead to providing complete production technology package related to crops, fruits and vegetables (Ali et al., 2011b). Regarding competencies of private sector agricultural extension agents Ali et al., (2009) reported that the competencies processed by private
Int. J. Agric. Appl. Sci. Vol. 7, No.2, 2015 agricultural extension agents were found to be weak and unsatisfactory. There is a huge controversy among the views of EFS and farmers concerning professional and technical competencies of agricultural extension staff of private agencies. The staff of private agricultural related agencies viewed that they are very much competent and capable but on the other hand farmers viewed that the staff of private sector is not so much competent. They are very much interested and involved in selling their products. Their concern is not related to the benefits of farming community (Ali et al., 2011a). Inspite of such disputes both public and private sectors are striving hard to educate and train the farmers regarding different crop management practices using participatory agricultural extension approaches. But it is very much unfortunate that the linkages between these two sectors are very much weak. There is need to strengthen these linkages for efficient delivery of agricultural extension services (Mirani and Memon, 2011). Besides agricultural extension services provided by public and private sector, different non-governmental organizations are also involved in extension work like different rural support programmes. These institutions are generally known as non-profit organizations (NPOs). These organizations are striving hard to improve the livelihoods of poor and marginalized masses of the rural society (Majeed et al., 2006). The emergence of Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the developmental work during early 1980s added a new dimension in the rural development activities in Pakistan. Most of the NGOs adopted participatory approach to rural development and poverty reduction through social mobilization at grass root level (ESCAP, 2001; Khan and Khan, 2004). Although there are many success stories of non-profit and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), but in many countries such organization have had limited impact on the provision of the essential services to the poor people in rural areas (World Bank, 2004). Policy Implications and Suggestions 1. In-service training programs should be started for capacity building of Extension Field Staff (EFS) to enhance their technical and professional competencies. Such trainings play an important role in upgrading and refreshing the knowledge of EFS related to crop management practiced (Khan et al., 2012b). The same was also reported by Khan et al., (2009), Saleem et al., (2010) and Khan et al., (2011). Furthermore, there is also a serious need to impart trainings to extension personals regarding the use of audio-visual aids, multimedia media projectors and ICTs. These trainings will play a significant role in narrowing the gap between existing and required technical crop related competencies of EFS (Khan, et al., 2008). 2. State authorities (government) should provide sufficient funds for the arrangement of mobility,
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official use and equipment. The same recommendation was also suggested by Ahmad et al., (2007). On the similar lines Khan and Akram (2012) reported that government should facilitate extension staff so that they can visit farmer’s fields on regular basis and the goals of sustainable agricultural development can be easily achieved. Inspite of all, the field related activities of EFS should be monitored on regular basis through effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism Rural women play a significant role in a number of crop and livestock management activities. In order to provide agricultural extension and advisory services to these women female agricultural extension workers should be recruited at village level. Further more women should be provided agriculture training and credit facilities to boost agriculture Government should take concrete steps to strengthen linkages between academia, research, extension and private sectors to provide agriculture technology packages to farmers. The approach of private sector in educating and reaching the farmers should be holistic instead of biased in providing extension and advisory services (Ali et al., 2011b) so that maximum farmers can get benefits from plant protection and production technologies (Yaseen et al., 2014). There should be some formulations to redesign and recognize the agricultural extension system through efficient and effective coordination among educational institutions, farmers, agricultural extension system and private sector involved in agricultural extension and advisory services.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This study is supported by the program CAAS-ASTIP-2015-AII, the authors’ thanks for support from innovation fund founded by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. REFERENCES Abbas, M., T.E. Lodhi, K.M. Aujla and S. Saadullah. 2009. Agricultural extension programs in Punjab. Pakistan Journal of life and Social Sciences, 7(1): 1-10. Ahmad, M., M. Akram, R. Rauf, I.A. Khan and U. Pervez. 2007. Interaction of extension worker with farmers and role of radio and television as sources of information in technology transfer: a case study of four villages of district Peshawar and Charsadda. Sarhad J. Agric., 23 (2): 515-518.
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Received for publication on July 14, 2015
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