Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.24, No.2, 2008 ANALYSIS OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SYSTEM: A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN PROVIDERS AND RECIPIENTS OF THE EXTENSION SERVICES EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM NORTH-WEST PAKISTAN Inayatullah Jan*, Humayun Khan* and Mohammad Jalaluddin** ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to analyze the agricultural extension system in North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The findings of the study show that weak extension-farmers linkage system prevails in the area. Despite the commitment of the government to provide extension services to the farmers at doorsteps, the farmers complain about no visits of the extension field workers to their farms. The study concludes that the weakness of the extension system was due to the lack of devotion, motivation and sense of responsibility among extension agents and weak monitoring system. The normal task of transferring and disseminating of appropriate agricultural technologies to farmers and good farm practices would not be sufficient for agricultural production unless supported by an effective extension system. Extension department need to exercise a more proactive and participatory role which should be based on strong extension-farmers linkage. Key words: Extension System, Agricultural Research, Modern Technology, Training, Small Farmers INTRODUCTION Like other developing countries, the population in Pakistan is increasing at an overwhelming rate. The present population of Pakistan is 158 million with an annual growth rate of 2.8%. By the year 2015, the total population of Pakistan would raise to 190.5 million (UNDP, Country Report, 2006). As a result, the food demand by the possibly overwhelming population growth will increase with the same rate. This is a challenge of the day which agriculture has to meet through increasing food production per unit area. Since land is fixed and becoming scarce with time, therefore priority should be given to maintain and improve the capacity of the higher potential agricultural land to support the food demand of the expanding population. In Pakistan, land fragmentation is one of the main problems which are effecting production per unit area. Besides, the reasons for low productivity are insufficient information available to the farmers about outcomes of modern research, use of modern technology and inputs, and improved farming practices. This is mainly because of weak extension methods being practiced which are characterised by traditional approach of educating farmers coupled with the insufficient financial availability to the big proportion of small farmers. The matter of enhancing agricultural productivity, therefore, largely depends on factors such as the availability of up-to-date information about farm practices, utilizing new technology, and adoption of modern farming practices (Inayat, 2007). Pakistan has a large rural sector which is primarily based on agriculture for food production and employment generation of rural inhabitants. Agriculture provides employment to 51.5% of the labour force, contributes 45% to export earnings and 26% to the gross domestic product (Government of Pakistan, 2004). Being an important sector of the economy, major changes in agricultural system are necessary to solve the problem of food security. These changes require competent farmers who have the capability to increase productivity, while at the same time maintaining the sustainability of their farming system by making effective use of the knowledge and information which is available from or can be generated by several different information sources, like research institutes, extension departments and markets. Nevertheless, the fact remains that majority of the farmers are not formally well-educated and the illiteracy rate is high amongst them. The perception of the technical information regarding modern agricultural research remains a constraint for their mental models. Hence, the extension service has to apply appropriate methods of extension to ensure the transfer of relevant information and technologies to the farmers. Agricultural research has made major contributions to increasing agricultural productivity. However, research does not always provide farmers with the information they need. Research does not take into account the fact that many farmers, especially in the developing countries, have limited access to resources. Similarly very few farmers can have direct contact with researchers, especially in an economy where a large number of farmers depends on very few (insufficient) research organisations, poor transportation and large social distance (differences) between these groups. Research will only have real impact on agricultural production if there are others * Institute of Development Studies (IDS), NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar – Pakistan. ** Department of Economic, Islamic College, Peshawar – Pakistan.