Strengthening of Institutional Linkages for Agriculture

Development in Pakistan By

Allah Dad Khan Provincial Project Director CMP-II

NWFP Component ( MINFAL)At Khyber Agriculture University Peshawar

Cell= o332 9221298

Brief History of Agriculture Extension

Agriculture Extension system was started in 1902 when the canal irrigation system was introduced in the Indo Pak sub continent.

In NWFP in 1910 for the first time Agriculture section was established at Tarnab Peshawar.

In 1935 this section developed into a full fledged department of Agriculture under the Director of Agriculture, who was responsible for both the Research and Extension in the Province.

The Department of Agriculture was reorganized into extension and research wings in 1962.

Present Status of Agriculture in NWFP

Rural; areas comprised of 83 % of total NWFP population.

44% of rural population Lives below poverty line.

More than 92% land owners are characterized as small farmers

Out of 10.177 m. hectares only 1.69m hectares area is cultivated.

14.5% land area is cultivable waste. About 50% of cultivated area is rainfed.

Present Status of Agriculture in NWFP Contd

NWFP is wheat deficit and domestic requirement is met through import from other provinces or abroad.

NWFP possesses comparative advantage in the production of fruits and vegetables.

Large number of Livestock population but low productivity. Frequent droughts and floods. Wide yield gap between progressive and average farmers. Ineffecient Research and Extension Services Lack of capital and financial resources and poor e4conomic

conditions of farmers. Lack of competitiveness of some agriculture commodities

grown by farmers. Marketing Soil problems ( Water logging,erosion salinity etc)

North West Frontier ProvinceAgriculture Statistics at a Glance

 Category AreaTotal Area 8.345Cultivable Area 1.848Non-Cultivable Area 6.497Forest Area 1.360Cultivable Waste 1.212Barani Area 0.924

Area Million Hec

Common Weaknesses of Agriculture Extension System.

Inadequate Staff in Agriculture Extension Inadequate finances, especially lack of operational

funds. Poor personnel and financial management procedures;

little use of management information system (MIS). Few or no incentives to recognize and award superior

performance. Field staff generally poorly trained or equipped to

carry out a wide range of extension activities. Adhoc or weak linkages with research. Lack of attention to the needs of disadvantaged group,

especially women. Poor organizational communications. Very limited clientele input into program development

CHALLENGES Faced in Agriculture Development

No rural based horticultural cottage industry for boosting growth and creating off farm employment opportunities ,ensuring sustainable markets and social benefits

NO road and rail infrastructure for efficient transportation of agricultural produce to main markets/ports.

Shortage of irrigational water . Un-attractive prices of Horticulture Products due to

lack of value addition

Challenges Faced in Agriculture Development contd---

Non Established organic farming zones. Weak accredited quality related infrastructure recognized

internationally under WTO rules. Less Storage Facilities at Air Ports. Less vegetables seed producing farms. No hill farming research and development centers exist . Developing Pocket Area Approach (one area one product). Weak Agriculture Research and Agriculture Extension

Departments. Marketing system non existence in PVT sector. Imposing ban on the use of Agriculture Land for Commercial

purposes. Simplification of credit Procedure for Small Farmers

Future Vision

Hypothetically, one would like to see that: The NWFP becomes a developed, industrialized, just

and prosperous province by utilizing the huge resource base of Agriculture sector through a coordinated and consistent manner to accomplish the Mission.

The potential of the sector is utilized to produce high quality food for improving the health status of the nation and increasing the income of the farming community.

Qualitative and quantitative enhancement of productivity of the sector is tailored in a manner to generate employment, create and develop business opportunities for local and foreign investors and to establish an export base.

Future Priorities/Directions For Agriculture Development

Well developed AE and ARS through establishment of FVDC in Public/PVT partnership ( Horticulture Vision 2020)

Capacity building of farmers through FSC/MFSC.

Priority fruit and vegetables to be encouraged.

To establish agriculture marketing system , regulated and non regulated markets , cooperative marketing , market driven services, collection points and cool chain development.

WTO and its awareness and production of crops.

13

Future Priorities/Directions /New Initiatives

Declaration of horticulture as industry. Strengthening of MFSC and IPM activities through FFS/PTD. Floriculture awareness and development . Promotion of plastic tunnel technology for off season vegetables,

hybrid seed production of vegetables, exploiting microclimatic zones for high value fruit and vegetables

Promoting rural based horticulture cottage industries (boosting economic growth), creating off farm employment opportunities, ensuring sustainable markets and providing social benefits.

Improving communication infrastructure and farm to market roads network for efficient transportation of agriculture produce to main markets/ports;

Expanding area under irrigation through small dams water harvesting and introducing high efficiency irrigation system like drip and sprinkler.

Establishing organic farming zones.

Creating accreditation and quality related infrastructure acceptable to WTO rules.

Future Priorities/Directions

Strengthening of plant protection quarantine services

Pesticides residual testing labs. Utilization of culturable waste Export of crops, fruits and vegetables. Arrangement of shows and melas. Linkages of GPU with fruit nurseries. Establishment of help line through TV and radio

programmes and other information materials. Establishment of cool chain and collection

centers and processing units.

Transition to Future Extension

Future Extension

Conventional Extension

• Centralized • Government-led• Technology centered

• Self-reliant• Farmer-led• Learning centered• Fewer staff• More professional

TransitionThrough

Farmer Field School

Paradigm Shift: Research - Extension – Farmer Relationship

Research

Extension

Farmer

Research E

xtension

Far mer

.....

FFSFarmer Field School

THANKS