ANALYSIS OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SYSTEM: A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN PROVIDERS AND RECIPIENTS OF THE EXTENSION SERVICES EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM NORTH-WEST PAKISTAN

The aim of this study was to analyze the agricultural extension system in North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The findings of the study show that weak extension-farmers linkage system prevails in the area. Despite the commitment of the government to provide extension services to the farmers at doorsteps, the farmers complain about no visits of the extension field workers to their farms. The study concludes that the weakness of the extension system was due to the lack of devotion, motivation and sense of responsibility among extension agents and weak monitoring system. The normal task of transferring and disseminating of appropriate agricultural technologies to farmers and good farm practices would not be sufficient for agricultural production unless supported by an effective extension system. Extension department need to exercise a more proactive and participatory role which should be based on strong extension-farmers linkage