Role Of Private Extension System In Agricultural Development Through Advisory Services In The Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Private sector is actively engaged in providing agricultural extension services to farming community of Pakistan. It is predominantly constituted by pesticide companies. These companies not only provide agricultural inputs to the farmers but also give extension services to them. The present study was conducted to analyze the type of extension services rendered by private extension system to the farmers. The study was carried out in the Punjab province by using crosssectional research design. Sixty (60) extension personnel of a private extension agency and 408 farmers were selected for interview by using simple random sampling technique through Fitzgibbon table. The data were collected through validated interview schedule and analyzed by using SPSS. Results revealed that 90% of the farmers got extension services from extension workers of the private sector, such as weed identification and weed control (91.5%), disease identification (87.3%), disease control (88.8%), insect pest identification (98.5%), and insect pest control (98.5%). While majority of respondents negates the provision of advisory services with respect to agronomic practices, post harvest and marketing. It is recommended that private extension system should provide a total technology package to farmers rather focusing on insect/pest control. Private sector should provide services regarding agronomic practices; soil analysis, seed bed preparation, selection of crop varieties, sowing time, sowing methods, seed treatment, spacing and seed rate in addition to post harvest, marketing, soil and water testing services.