ROLE OF MODEL FARM SERVICES CENTERS IN IMPROVING FARMERS' ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL INPUTS AND FARM MACHINERY

摘要

Model Farm Services Centers (MFSCs) approach was launched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to increase the accessibility of farmers to agricultural inputs including farm machinery during the year 2008. The present study was conducted at the Institute of Agri. Extension and Rural Development, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan to assess the role of these MFSCs to meet the purpose. The population for study consisted of member farmers of the MFSCs in four districts (Peshawar, Swat, Abbotabad and Swabi) having different ecological mix cropping zones. From each district, 100 member farmers of MFSCs were randomly selected thereby making a total of 400 respondents from the entire population. The data were collected with the help of a validated and reliable interview schedule through a research team comprising four members who were properly trained for the purpose. The analysis of the data reveals that supply of fertilizers to the respondents through MFSCs ranked 1 st with mean value 3.24 closely followed by supply of seed and pesticides which were ranked 2 nd and 3 rd with mean values 3.07 and 3.09, respectively. Under farm machinery, supply of hand sprayers to the farming community through MFSCs ranked 1 st with mean value 2.76 closely followed by supply of tractors and mould board ploughs which were ranked 2 nd and 3 rd with mean values 2.40 and 2.57, respectively. Farm machinery was the weakest component of MFSCs; most of the machinery available at the MFSCs was nonfunctional and was of no utility to the farmers. The study recommends that sufficient farm machinery (functional in all respects) may be given to MFSCs to be rented out to the farming community which could be of benefit to the farmers. Moreover, timely repair and maintenance of farm machinery, provision of more funds to MFSCs, timely availability of inputs in sufficient quantity, monitoring of farm services and supply of inputs to farmers at union council level may be some important steps for improvement of existing functioning of MFSCs.