Abstract

The study describes the use and effectiveness of various sources of information as employed by agriculture extension in Sindh (Pakistan) to disseminate the agricultural technology and innovation. Farmers perceived that neighboring farmers and agricultural suppliers were very much effective sources of agricultural information and they used these sources for obtaining information about the latest agricultural products. In addition, farmers perceived that training/seminars, farmer field schools, and demonstration, radio, and face to face were effective approaches for technology transfer. Extension and research personnel perceived that they used radio on an “almost always” basis. In addition, they perceived that radio, television and agricultural suppliers are “very effective” sources of information. Both extension and research personnel on average perceived mass media (publications, radio, TV and Audio-visual aids), farmer field school, demonstration and face to face as “effective” approaches to technology transfer.

Introduction

Internationally, Pakistan is recognized as an agricultural country. More than 70% of its population is affiliated with the profession of agriculture. Being the dominant sector of the economy, presently agriculture contributes 21.8 percent to GDP (Gross Domestic Product), employs 44.7 percent of the country’s labor force and contributes substantially to export earnings. It also contributes to growth providing raw material for industry. Therefore, agriculture is bound to have a substantial impact on the growth of overall GDP (GOP, 2009).

In developing countries such as Pakistan, farmers do not have the opportunity to try new technology because of the high risk and cost. An efficient extension system aiming at transferring appropriate practices/technology to the small-scale/subsistence farmers can play a crucial role in the solution/alleviation of this problem. Various models of extension ranging from Traditional extension to Farmer Field Schools were established to strengthen the extension activities designed to increase among other things agricultural production and related economic activities through the adoption of need-based technologies.

Farmers do not often make visits to research stations; however, farmers obtained knowledge from different sources such as mass media, and fertilizer and pesticide/insecticide agencies. Farmers in Pakistan are often contacted by private agencies such as fertilizer companies in support of the adoption of innovation (Ali, 1980; Chaudhary, 1980; Mirani, et al. 1999). Innovation is often undertaken initially by the big landlords who positively response to new technologies. Innovation reaches small scale farmers much more slowly. (Tahseen, 1987; Rashid, 1987; Mahmood, 1987; Rogers, 1995). Jalvi (1990) has emphasized the need to carry out research on Agricultural Extension techniques throughout Pakistan for the purpose of updating and modifying the extension system on a regular basis.

It has been observed that most of the farmers in the Sindh are not fully aware of recommended agricultural technologies resulting in low yield per acre. For the communication of new ideas and skills to the farmers, various methods (individual, group, and mass) are being utilized by public and private extension in Sindh. Knowledge acquisition occurs with awareness, exposure and at least a rudimentary understanding of how an innovation functions (Rogers, 1995).

In addition, technology transfer and adoption are interrelated processes and are instrumental for production enhancement. Through technology transfer and adoption, agricultural extension is performing to tackle the emerging problems as faced by farmers. While assumptions have been made about effectiveness of technology transfer methods, very few studies have concentrated on assessing agricultural information sources, their use and effectiveness in the Sindh province of Pakistan.

Purpose and objectives

The main purpose of this study is to assess the technology transfer methods/sources as perceived by farmers and extension and research personnel in Sindh. The specific objectives of the study were to:

1. record the perception of farmers regarding the use and effectiveness of sources and approaches to technology transfer as used by agricultural extension/research;

2. assess the impact of various sources of information employed in technology transfer as perceived by the extension and research personnel; and

3. record the opinions of farmers and extension and research personnel regarding the technology transfer process.

Material and Methods

The present research features a descriptive survey design. Descriptive research is a method that involves making a careful description of educational phenomena (Gall, Gall, Borg, 2006). Leedy (2005) describes a descriptive survey as a normative survey. A detailed questionnaire was developed and reviewed by scientists and extension and research officials in the field. The questionnaire was than translated into Sindhi (the local) language. The information was collected through personal interviews during the year 2009 in various purposively selected districts of Sindh province. A random sample of 450 farmers and 75 extension and 25 research personnel was selected using a simple random sampling technique. However, due to the inaccessibility of farmers, 400 farmers were interviewed which represents a total response rate of 88% which is adequate if the sample size is more then 200 hundred (Wunsch, 1986). The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS program.

Results

A. Farmers

The data presented in Table-1 indicates various sources of information and their effectiveness as perceived by farmers. Farmers perceived that on average they are using neighboring farmers and agricultural suppliers “always”, radio and TV, and Extension personnel “almost always”, and magazines “often” as sources of information. In addition, farmers perceived that agricultural suppliers, neighboring farmers, TV, and radio are “very much” effective sources of information as employed by extension/research, whereas, newspapers and magazines were perceived only “much” effective sources of information.

Table-1: Perception of farmers regarding use* and effectiveness** of possible sources of information as employed by Extension / Research personnel

* A 1 to 5 Likert type scale was used where 1 stands for never, 2 for seldom, 3 for often, 4 for almost always, and 5 for always

** A 1 to 6 Likert type scale was used where 1 stands for little , 2 for some, 3 for much, 4 for very much, 5 for an exceptional amount and 6 for not applicable

The present research inquired about the effectiveness of various approaches to technology transfer (Table-2). Results show that from the mass method approach to technology transfer, on average, radio was perceived as an “effective” approach and other mass method approaches to technology transfer were perceived to be only "somewhat effective”. From group methods, training/seminar, farmer field schools and demonstrations were perceived as “effective” approaches to technology transfer. From individual methods, face to face and farm/personal visit approaches to technology transfer were perceived as “effective” approaches.

Table-2: Effectiveness of technology transfer approaches as perceived by farmers

A 1 to 5 Likert Type Scale was used where 1= Not Effective, 2 = To Somewhat Not Effective, 3 = Somewhat Effective, 4, Effective, 5 = Very Effective, and 6 = Not applicable

Opinion survey

Opinion surveys provide in depth analysis of respondents’ opinions. The present research provided the opportunity to farmers to describe their opinions regarding adoption of new technology and allowed them to describe the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the present technology transfer process as used by extension/research. A vast majority of farmers indicated lack of money, high price of inputs referring to the price of DAP fertilizer, seed and pesticide, and adulterated/outdated/expired inputs and non-availability of inputs as major problems faced by them while adopting new technology. The majority of farmers preferred farmer field schools, demonstrations and farm visits for better diffusion-adoption of new agricultural practices. Farmers also perceived radio as an effective source of information. It is also a fact that farmers are receiving fewer visits by extension personnel. Agricultural supplier/dealers were perceived as influential figures in the area as most of the decisions regarding use of inputs at farmers’ field are made by them. Farmers suggested that more regular visits of extension personnel should be the priority of extension and realistic technologies should be diffused. The farmers indicated a weak information delivery system with less support for demonstration/visualization as weaknesses in the present technology transfer system.

B. Extension and Research Personnel

The data shown in Table-3 presents the perceptions of extension and research personnel regarding various sources of information as used by them and their effectiveness. Both extension and research personnel perceived that on average they are using radio “almost always”, and magazines/brochures and agricultural suppliers “often”. In addition, they also perceived that radio, television, and magazines/brochures are “very much” effective sources of information as employed by extension/research, whereas, agricultural suppliers and neighboring farmers are “much” effective sources of information.

The effectiveness of various approaches to technology transfer as used by extension and research personnel was recorded. Results presented in (Table-4) show that on average mass media (Publications, Radio, TV, Audio-Visual Aids) are perceived as “effective” approaches to technology transfer. Training/seminars, farmer field schools and demonstrations were perceived as “effective” group approaches to technology transfer. Face to face and farm/personal visits of were perceived as “effective” individual approaches to technology transfer.

Table-3: Perception of Extension and Research personnel regarding use* and effectiveness** of possible sources of information

* A 1 to 5 Likert type scale was used where 1 stands for never, 2 for seldom, 3 for often, 4 for almost always, and 5 for always

** A 1 to 6 Likert type scale was used where 1 stands for little , 2 for some, 3 for much, 4 for very much, 5 for an exceptional amount and 6 for not applicable

Table-4: Effectiveness of technology transfer approaches as perceived by Extension and Research personnel

A 1 to 5 Likert Type Scale was used where 1= Not Effective, 2 = To Somewhat Not Effective, 3 = Somewhat Effective, 4, Effective, 5 = Very Effective, and 6 = Not applicable

Opinion Survey

Agricultural extension/research personnel were of the opinion that mass media (TV, Radio, publications) must be effectively used to transfer new agricultural practices to the farming community, since there are few opportunities provided to them to conduct demonstration plots and face to face meetings. However, both emphasized the need to conduct training/seminars as they proved to be effective ways of transferring technology. Agricultural extension/research personnel admitted the strong role of private extension services (pesticide/fertilizer agencies) and agricultural suppliers in farmers’ decision-making.

Conclusions

Farmers perceived that on average they were using radio “always”, neighboring farmers and agricultural suppliers “almost always”, and magazine “often”. In addition, farmers perceived these sources of information as “very much” effective in diffusion of new agricultural practices. As well, farmers perceived that training/seminars, farmer field schools, and demonstrations were “effective” group approaches to technology transfer. Radio from mass media was perceived as an “effective” approach in technology transfer. Face to face and farm/personal visits were perceived as “effective” approaches to technology transfer in the individual category. Farmers identified farmers field schools, demonstrations, and farm visits as better diffusion-adoption approaches for new agricultural practices. Farmers also emphasized the need for regular farm visits in addition to the proper supply of pure inputs.

Extension and research personnel perceived that they used radio “almost always”, and magazines, brochures and agricultural suppliers were used “often”. In addition extension and research personnel perceived that the radio, television and agricultural suppliers are “very effective” sources of information. Both extension and research personnel on average perceived mass media (publications, radio, TV and Audio-visual aids) as “effective” approaches to technology transfer, whereas farmers field schools and demonstrations were perceived as “effective” group approaches to technology transfer. Face to face and farm/personnel visits from individual approaches were perceived as “effective” approaches as well. Both extension and research personnel were of the opinion that mass media must be used effectively in order to get maximum output with minimum efforts. However both emphasized the need to conduct seminars/training. Both also emphasized the strong role of private extension services (pesticide/fertilizer agencies) and agricultural suppliers in farmers" decision making.

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