The Mastery of Extension Field Staff (EFS): Unveiling Their Expertise in Crop Management Practices
The Mastery of Extension Field Staff (EFS): Unveiling Their Expertise in Crop Management Practices
Kashif Shehzad* and Ikramul Haq
ABSTRACT
The Crop management practices play a crucial role in ensuring successful agricultural outcomes, including yield optimization, disease prevention and sustainable farming. This research aims to investigate the expertise of Extension Field Staff (EFS) in applying diverse crop management practices. The current research study was conducted in four agro-ecological zones of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in which one district each was selected. A sample of 147 respondents were selected from the four districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa using the Sekaran sampling table whereas proportional allocation technique was also used to obtain the desire sample size from each district. The findings indicated that the majority of the respondents were in the “51-60” age group, with 79.5% holding a diploma as their highest qualification and having more than 21 years of experience in the relevant field. The study identifies limited knowledge and skills, market access and limited resources as major challenges in implementing crop management practices. The results of a regression analysis also stated that age, years of experience and field of specialization significantly influence expertise in crop management, while the impact of education is practically negligible. It is concluded that the expertise of EFS in crop management significantly improves agricultural productivity and promotes sustainable farming techniques by sharing knowledge and providing on-ground assistance to encourage farmers’ adoption of advanced crop management practices. To further enhance the impact of EFS in crop management practices, it is recommended that agricultural organizations and governing bodies may invest in continuous training and professional development programs. These initiatives should aim to update EFS on the latest innovations in agricultural technology, sustainable farming methods and climate-resilient practices.
To share on other social networks, click on any share button. What are these?
