Impact of Agricultural Extension Services on the use of Seed in Balochistan Province

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to assess the impact of agriculture extension packages in terms of increase in agricultural productivity and increase in farmers’ income through the use of quality seed in the province of Balochistan. To this end we interviewed 300 farmers in 5 districts of Balochistan. They were selected at random in order to get their responses regarding the use of recommended variety of seeds by the learned extension workers. The introduction of improved variety of seed to the farmers is one of the technological interventions leading towards the growth of crop production. Regarding the use of seed, the role of the different change agents has been somewhat non-competitive in motivating the farmers for the use of technology. The role of the elders has been on the top, convincing 32% farmers to accept the change of using the recommended variety of the seed and extension workers succeeded 23% farmers to shift from the traditional seeds to the new improved varieties. The role of the fellow farmers, progressive farmers & other non-categorized actors covers the rest of the farmers. Referring to seed suppliers in Rabi season, the major seed suppliers are the private shops from where 62% farmers in the province procure seed from and the second major source of seed is the self-stored seed of the farmers which is 22% of the total. Farmers who have stuck with the same variety for more than 10 years are almost half (48%). Referring to the support requested to have quality seeds, the highest number of farmers (47%) has asked for assistance in the area of knowledge about types and use of certified quality seed followed by the next higher number (23%) of farmers, who have requested for the provision of information about supply centers providing quality seeds.