Abstract
Agricultural extension services have a pivotal role in agricultural and rural development. It is the major source of
technology dissemination and helps the farmers to rationalize the use of natural resources for a sustainable
agricultural development. Globally, public–private partnership approach in Agricultural Extension is considered
more effective, efficient, and responsive to different categories of farmers. In Pakistan, government of North West
Frontier Province (NWFP) has initiated a public-private partnership Extension Programme in the province. This is
locally called as Farm Services Centre (FSC). This approach has the inbuilt mechanism of inputs delivery, market
facilitation, exchange of experiences and diffusion of knowledge and technology. However, the extent to which
this public-private partnership is instrumental in achieving aforementioned objectives is yet to be established. The
present study was an attempt to analyze this public-private partnership approach by measuring its strengths and
weaknesses. For this purpose, out of 24 districts of NWFP, two districts namely Swabi and Lakimarwat were
selected randomly. From these two districts, 491 FSC’s member farmers were selected as respondents for
interview on random basis. The analysis showed that the most prominent strength of FSC was “farmers’
empowerment” with mean 4.05 and SD 1.29, while that of Agriculture Extension Department (AED) was “effective
message delivery”. As per respondents, the major weakness of both (FSC & AED) systems was “no marketing
facility” with mean 4.12 & 4.13 and SD 1.22 & 1.01 respectively. It is essential that the government should ensure
the mandated activities at FSC forum particularly the facilitation by line agencies and NWFP Agricultural
University, Peshawar. It should be a forum of technology dissemination, agricultural surplus produce marketing
and cooperative farming. Agricultural Extension Department should provide more facilities to the staff indulged in
FSC activities to increase their efficiency through special allowance and honorarium. As pointed out by
respondents, separate meeting place should be provided for female farmers for an effective training and efficient
utilization of the acquired knowledge in relevant fields.
