Agriculture extension

The gap between progressive farmers and a majority of small farmers varies from 79 percent to 45 percent in Pakistan, whereas global yield is much higher. Progressive farmers in the country get an average 4.6 tons of wheat per hectare, while the national yield is 2.6 tons per hectare. The yield gap between the two is 43 percent. Similarly, the cotton productivity gap between progressive and average farmers is 30 percent whereas for sugarcane the difference is above 70 percent in Sindh and 61 percent in Punjab. In the same way, progressive farmers produce 58 percent more maize and 45 percent more rice than ordinary small farmers.

It merits a mention that each province has an argicultural extension department with the mandate to guide farmers on sowing time for each crop, type of fertiliser needed, weather changes and to find out the types of pests attacking crops and recommending proper pesticides. They should also ensure availability of certified seeds and prompt action against supply of spurious pesticides and fertilizers. Small farmers say that they do not get the requisite information and guidance by these agricultural extension departments. These departments are mostly used by big landlords and they are denied to small farmers. The agriculture officers seldom go in field duty to guide farmers. In view of this, there is a dire need of revival of the extension services of the agriculture departments. Also, the farmers need to be made aware of the impact of climate change on agriculture. It is to be added that agriculture flourishes best in countries where agriculture extension services are the best.

Khan Faraz

Peshawar