The use of extension methods by district agricultural extension officers insouthern Thailand

The use of extension methods by district agricultural extension officers insouthern Thailand
การใช้วิธีการส่งเสริมแบบต่างๆ ของเกษตรอำเภอในภาคใต้ของประเทศไทย

Apinya Ratanachai, D. of Agricultural Development, F. of Natural Resources, PSU.
E-mail : rapinya@ratree.psu.ac.th

Grant : Prince of Songkla University
Published : Research Report
Key words : extension methods, district agricultural extension officers, southern Thailand

This research aimed to study the research methods used by district agricultural extension officers, what problems they encountered, and how they thought their work might be improved. The sample population was all of the district agricultural extension officers in Southern Thailand - a total of 138 officers. The study determined that the method most commonly used for personal contact between the district agricultural extension officers and farmers was the home and farm visit; group meetings were often arranged for group participation, and printed materials were distributed in various ways for mass contact between the district agricultural extension officers and the general farming population. The district agricultural extension officers felt that the home and farm visit was the most useful contact, followed by group meetings and exhibitions or displays of printed material at appropriate venues (i.e. agricultural fairs). The major problems they felt their work faced was the lack of training in modern methods or opportunity to observe modern technology, farmers had a generally low level of formal education, and their budget was insufficient for the work. Their major suggestion were their a clear policy should be established concerning their role, their budget should be increased, and audio-visual materials should be upgraded to more modern standards. Some general background characteristics correlated with varieties of extension methods, for instance the level of education of the respondents correlated with participation in field trips (X² = 14.30), demonstrations (X² = 22.59), agricultural contest (X² = 12.78), slide (X² = 17.41) and radio programs (X² = 16.36). The length of service of the district agricultural officers related positively to the group meeting (X² = 6.33). And the work experience of the district agricultural officers correlated to home and farm visit (X² = 16.95) and group meetings (X² = 7.91).

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