Engagement with extension services by small-acreage sugarcane farmers in selected districts of Pakistan

Abstract

Extension services perform a pivotal role in encouraging farmers to adopt better farm practices and boost agricultural yields. A multi-stage sampling technique was applied to select 336 sugarcane growers who were interviewed in face-to-face meetings. Results of study show that most growers (299) farmed small parcels of land up to 2.0 ha. Of these small growers, less than half (139) had any knowledge of the public agricultural extension services available to them. Moreover, only 44 growers reported that they knew an extension agent and 23 confirmed that they had sought information by a range of extension methods. These 23 growers achieved an average yield of 108 t ha(-1) while the remaining313 farmers achieved average yields around 60 t ha(-1). This study suggests the government of Pakistan should review the performance of public agricultural extension departments and extension agents and consider strengthening the present extension services