TRAINING NEEDS OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AGENTS IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Effective and efficient extension services play pivotal role in boosting agriculture for uplifting of socio and economic condition of the end user. In-service training of the Extension Agents is the call of the time. However, these services particularly in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) now called Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) remained namesake and almost limited too file work. Through trained Agricultural Extension Agents new agricultural technology can easily and favorably be transferred to clientele. The article is based on primary data collected through mailed questionnaire from 111 respondents in 2007. The present study showed that only 30% of the respondents attended regular trainings, while about 41% of respondents attended the trainings with 16-30 days duration. The majority (85%) of the respondents attended trainings in the areas of water management followed by agronomy (59%) and Integrated Pest Management (43%). It was also observed that majority (55%) of agriculture officers suggested that the training duration should be 1-15 days. Demonstration method was considered as most important one by majority of AOs. Trainings should not be conducted at the time of sowing and harvesting time and lectures should be carried out during the training sessions.