Recent Trends and Challenges of Agriculture Extension in Khyber PakhtunKhwa ByAllah Dad Khan

Present Agriculture Situation in

 Agriculture is the mainstay of the country's economy Contributing 24% towards GDP ( in 1947 per capita income $100 and

Population 30 million in 2010 per capita income 1000 $ and Population 170 million)

Back bone for the economy( Livelihood for 68.5 % rural population of country

Providing employment to 47% 0f total work force ) Base for foreign trade ( Earning 35% of the country total export

earning )

Ranks 7th in Wheat production in World 1st one is China .(2009) Ranks 11th in Rice production in World 1st one is China . (2009) Ranks 4th in Cotton production in World 1st one is China . ( 2009) Ranks 7th in Date Palm production in World 1st one is Iraq. (2009) Ranks 5th in Sugarcane production in World 1st one is Brazil (2009) Ranks 4th in Onion dry production in World 1st one is China . ( 2009) Ranks 7th in fresh vegetables production in World 1st one is China. (2009)

Brief History The Agriculture Extension IN Khyber PakhtunKhwa This 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 in 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. There was a great need to develop and organize the Agriculture services on new lines and with the passage of time the concept of Agriculture Extension took into general shape both in the Public as well as Private sector. The Department of Agriculture was reorganized into extension and research wings in 1962.

North West Frontier Province

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

Area Million Hec

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

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)

Present Status of Agriculture in KPK

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)

Emerging Issues in Agriculture

Flat yield and productivity of water Under performance of rural sector markets and extension

services. Under investment in agriculture research and technology

development. Unreliability of water services Improved rural infrastructure and education provision. Scaling up of diversification into new, higher value crops and use

of new land more efficient irrigation technology . Farm to market road High Cost of Agriculture Inputs Shortage of water and water reservoirs Special Calamity

Where are we?What are the Strengths

and Weaknesses

of our current agricultural system?

May 1, 2023 Toward a Sustainable Agriculture 12

Successes Abundant Food Supply In The Developed World Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Available Year-

round CHEAP FOOD Luxury foods such as coffee, tea, chocolate,

and spices easily available around the world Effective food preservation technologies

(refrigeration, freezing, canning, packaging) Convenience Foods Mechanization Produces High Labor Efficiency Improvements In Soil Conservation Availability Of Agricultural Inputs For Quick

Solutions To Production Problems

May 1, 2023 Toward a Sustainable Agriculture 13

Problems Continuing soil loss Food safety concerns (mad cow disease, food

poisoning outbreaks, antibiotic resistance, toxins and pesticides)

Water pollution, air pollution (& odors), habitat loss, water depletion

Continuing hunger – and rise of obesity Failing farms, economic uncertainty and stress Declining communities Farm accidents, chronic diseases linked to

agricultural chemicals Reliance on fossil fuels, global warming Farmland loss to development, ugly countryside Difficulty of starting in farming

May 1, 2023 Toward a Sustainable Agriculture 14

Emerging Issues in Agriculture

Flat yield and productivity of water Under performance of rural sector markets and extension

services. Under investment in agriculture research and technology

development. Unreliability of water services Improved rural infrastructure and education provision. Scaling up of diversification into new, higher value crops and use

of new land more efficient irrigation technology . Farm to market road High Cost of Agriculture Inputs Shortage of water and water reservoirs Special Calamity

Emerging Issues in Agriculture contd

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.

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

Future Priorities/Directions

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

Capacity buiding of farmers through FSC. 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.

Future Priorities/Directions contd

Declaration of horticulture as industry. Strengthening of MFSC and IPM activities through

FFS/PTD. Floriculture awareness Promotion of plastic tunnel technology for off season

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

Expanding Area under Irrigation: small dams, water harvesting, new canals, high efficiency irrigation

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

Principles Grow Healthy Crop Observe Crop Regularly Conserve Natural

Ecosystem Farmer Becomes Expert

Objectives Capacity Building Empowerment Confidence

Development Decision Making

Farmer Field School

Farmer Field School Activities

Test

.

.

.

.

.

Test IPMFarmer

Cucumber Cropping CalendarIsmailia, Winter Season

October November December January FebruaryPreplant Seedling Growth Flower Fruit-Set Harvest

Climate protect young plantsfrom strong winds

preferred temperature: day 24o/night19o

rH should not sink below 40-50%preferred temperature: day 20o/night16o

rH should not sink below 40-50%preferred temperature:

day 27o/night27°keep tunnels closed for

germination onlyventilate tunnels, particularly after sunrise to avoid water on the leaves at any time

keep tunnels closed at nightSoil use fine-structured, well

aerated organic soils use 20-40m3 manure to

increase organic matter add 50-100 kg sulfur to

lower alkalinity

plant 2-3 cm deep keep soil warm to assist

germination

remove weeds

Water use well drained soilswith high water holdingcapacity

irrigate lightly and regularly, preferably in the morning hoursavoid water logging and periods of water stress

NutrientsN 50 kg Ammon. Sulfate

P 100 kg Super Phosphate

KCa 50 kg Calcium Nitrate

MicroelementsProtection Favorable Conditions: Control Measures:

Downy Mildew 20-25oC90-95% rH

Protective:Cu-oxichlorideCurative: systemic

Powd. Mildew 20-25oC75-85% rH Micronized Sulfur/water

Spider Mites warm and dryMicronized Sulfur

Aphids K-soap

CulturalPractices

do not grow cucumberrepeatedly in the samefield to avoid nematodes

use 1.5 kg seeds/fd6-8000plants/fd1-2 plants/m2

clip tips to encourageside shoots

cut out old, diseasedleaves

50 kg Potassium Sulfate 50 kg Potassium Sulfate50-100 kg Super Phosphate

Use TX6 Nozzles for best coverage

Crop CalendarManagement Skills•Observation and analysis skills•Experimentation skills•Complex decision making skills•Social skills•Organizational skills

Farmer Education• Self-Discovery• Learning Exercises• Ecological PrinciplesField Analysis

Field Analysis

Demo

Syllabus Components

۞Science and Farmers

۞Non-Formal Education

۞Management

۞Organization

Farmer Field School

Vice President

General Secretary

Information Secretary

Treasurers

Agriculture Officer

General Body

Minimum 200

Management Committee

Executive Body

25 –100 Farmers

President

Current status of FSCs

Future Priorities/Directions contd

Strengthening of plant protection quarntine 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.

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