Model farm Services Centers Concept,

objectives, Activities and Marketing

StrategyBy Allah Dad Khan Director General

Agriculture Extension KPK .

CONCEPTS OF MFSC

1.To improve accessibility to farmers to quality farm inputs at nearest possible location on reasonable prices.

2.Improvements of farmer’s skill in farm management ,planning and need assessment.

3.Enabling the farmers to run the seed production system and manage the inputs and their

distribution by the farmers. 4.To create linkages of farming communities

with the line agencies, service providers and facilitators.

OBJECTIVES OF MFSC

1. Empowerment of the farming community.2. Equal facilities provided to all members3. Establishment of a transparent and sustainable system free

from exploitation and managed by the farmers / members themselves

4. Linkages with governmental and NGO’s.5. Enhancement of latent capabilities and potentials of the

farming communities and their environments, including income-generating activities conducted by W.O.

6. Availability of resources (Financial & Physical) to the FSC.7. Service oriented and not profit oriented system.8. Management by the farmers and for the farmers.9. Ensuring effective technology transfer and improvement

farmers skills.10. Ensure timely availability of quality inputs /services to

small farmers.

MANDATE OF AGRICULTURE EXTENSION

1. Agriculture Extension is serving the farming community since long.

2. The Agriculture Extension Staff was responsible for distribution of agricultural inputs such as seed, fertilizer, pesticides and fruit plants and other inputs..

3. However, under the revised policy seed, fertilizer, pesticides and fruit plants was transferred to private sector and Agriculture

4. Extension staff was exclusively spared for agricultural extension education , transfer of modern technology and motivation of farmers.

5. Since 1982 the inception of new policy, the distribution/supply of inputs to the farmers has become very difficult, as private sector is not reaching the remote rural areas.

6. Moreover quality and in time availability of these inputs at reasonable prices is also another problem.

7. Therefore farmers were facing great difficulties in getting Agriculture inputs, resulting in low productivity.

ACTIVITIES OF MFSC

A) Seed production will be carried out by the FSC through its members with the support and coordination of the FSI.

B) The MFSC may get fertilizers/pesticides agencies for smooth supply of inputs.

C) The MFSC may hire cold storage if needed. D) The MFSC may consider the joint marketing

activities either through establishment of separate markets or through supply to other markets where the members can fetch better prices for their produces.

E) The MFSC may patronize the gender activities and gender based entrepreneur-ship activities in the areas.

F) The M. C. will hold fortnightly meetings to determine the need of inputs and chalk out strategy for functions and activities. The A. E and A. will assist MFSC in preparing / programme for seasonal activities in accordance with local needs.

MARKETING STRATEGY

The members of the MFSC will be trained in marketing. Exposure visits of the M.C will be arranged to different markets. The staff of A.E Department will collect the daily market rates of

the agriculture commodities and will be communicated to the Radio Pakistan for daily broad cast.

Agricultural produce prices in other markets of the province/ country will be provided to MFSC for the information of the farming community.

When linkages of the MFSC is created and strengthened with other markets then the surplus produce can be sold in other markets by making bargain with the parties / dealers of those markets.

The MFSCs may establish their own market procurement centre for the disposal of their produces.

Grading system of agricultural produce particularly fruit and vegetables will be introduced in the MFSC area.

Stores & cold stores for the storage of produce can also be hired.  

PHILOSOPHY OF MFSC/FSC

Any programme with single objective is likely to collapse when this objective is reached.

This is what happened in several projects in the past, in Pakistan and in other counties.

The safest and probably to keep people together is by sharing a common objective or common interest.

The same applies to farmers, organization to remain active and alive is likely to be boosted if several common interest are identified and strengthened.

The objective of the FSC/MFSC is to develop and strengthen these common interests, in a way that is sustainable thus requiring a minimum support from the line agencies.

PHILOSOPHY OF MFSC/FSC CONTD

Good seed is fundamental factor of production in Agriculture and play vital role in yield increase. Access to quality seed at an affordable price is very high on the agenda of most farmers.

Availability of quality seed at farm gate has always been a problem. Therefore it has been identified as a key problem to be addressed with in the FSC /MFSC approach.

Different strategies have been developed to overcome the problem of access to quality seed. Agriculture Extension (Seed industry scheme), ADA seed multiplication plots, Barani seed centersetc but none of them has been fully successful and/or sustainable.

GUIDING PRINCIPALS OF FSC /MFSC In order to increase the chance of long-term sustainability, it

was decided to initiate an innovative approach called Farmer Services Centers based on the following guiding principles.

The main objectives are to develop common activities, which are likely to strengthen the binding forces, which exist within farming community

With these joint activities, quality seed production is likely to be the most attractive one even if other activities must be considered e.g. joint purchase of inputs (Fertilizer, Pesticides etc) joint marketing, storage and food processing etc.

All joint activities should be implemented, conducted and developed on demand basis.

In order to be sustainable, a leading role is given to the Agriculture Extension as it has strong network in the rural areas amongst the farming community.

The ultimate goal is the effective improvement of the farming community (financial & technical management by farmers themselves).

MODEL FARM SERVICES CENTER ACTIVITIESSHORT FALL The Weaknesses Felt By the Inspection Team

while visiting Different MFSC in KPK As shown in the above model it was inbuilt that

all the relevant department must be placed at the MFSC and the farmers would be benefited through one window operation , but it was noticed that except at few places the staff has not been directed to be available at MFSC , unfortunately the staff was not available .

The livestock department while asked for that live Stock Officer is not available , the administration informed that they have no spare staff to be placed at MFSC , which shows disinterest of the Department , the same is the case of some other departments at different sites,

MODEL FARM SERVICES CENTER ACTIVITIESSHORT FALL Soil testing laboratories were the main infrastructure

for testing the soil , in this connection in nine MFSC the laboratories were build , but they are not yet in operation since last four years.

It was decided that all the stake holders be involved in getting their share in operating MFSC , Agriculture Extension has taken the lead and Agriculture Research has not got their share , similar is the case of some other departments.

The project has not fulfilled the objectives of MFSC establishment as PC -1 was not implemented as was inbuild , which shows that after the passage of four years the farmers are unable to run these farm services centers.

Agriculture machinery in MFSC was not available the machinery received from Agriculture Engineering was just of no use. Which was not replaced?

MODEL FARM SERVICES CENTER ACTIVITIESSHORT FALL Artificial insemination services as mentioned in document

was not given importance the facility is not yet provided at MFSC.

Agriculture Advisory services in all discipline was not given to farmers as most of the president of MFSC are not trained and yet not taking positive interest in MFSC development.

Agriculture Extension staff is posted in MFSC inthat MFSC which are under the control of Agriculture Extension Department.

10.The membership is not increasing as it was required in PC 1 , in some MFSC the membership declined and farmers have taken their share back

11. In present situation it was also noticed that the election was not held in MFSC , and facilities were not provided in Farm Services centers.

12. MFSC only confine the activities to agriculture input provision , and did not care about other activities such as livestock, soil conservation , water management etc.