Climate Change Competencies Assessment of Field Assistants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The present research study was conducted in order to assess possessed and required level of climatechange competencies, their training needs and influence of demographic characteristics on the climatechange competencies of Field Assistants of the Agriculture Extension Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.A sample of 234 out of total 543 Field Assistants were selected with the help of Sekaran Sampling Techniqueand the respondents were distributed in four Agro-ecological zones of the province with the help ofproportional allocation sampling method. Data from the respondents were collected through pretested andvalidated interview schedule. Data was analyzed using SPSS Ver.20. Mean, standard deviation, chi-squaretest and paired sample t-tests were calculated to achieve the study objectives. Results of the study revealedthat Field Assistants were incompetent in competencies regarding record keeping on climate change issues,recording and reporting climate change impacts, use of cultural practices to mitigate climate change impacts,promoting cultivation of improved crop varieties regarding climate change and evaluating adaptationoptions. Highly significant difference at 1% level of probability between the possessed and required levelof these competencies revealed that Field Assistants required trainings in these climate change competencies.Therefore, it is suggested that immediate in-service training should be provided to them in the identifiedcompetencies and also it might be included in the curriculum of the Field Assistants diploma course.