1. Model farm Services Centers Concept, objectives, Activities
and Marketing Strategy By Allah Dad Khan Director General
Agriculture Extension KPK .
2. 1.To improve accessibility to farmers to quality farm inputs
at nearest possible location on reasonable prices. 2.Improvements
of farmers skill in farm management ,planning and need assessment.
3.Enabling the farmers to run the seed production system and manage
the inputs and their distribution by the farmers. 4.To create
linkages of farming communities with the line agencies, service
providers and facilitators.
3. 1. Empowerment of the farming community. 2. Equal facilities
provided to all members 3. Establishment of a transparent and
sustainable system free from exploitation and managed by the
farmers / members themselves 4. Linkages with governmental and
NGOs. 5. Enhancement of latent capabilities and potentials of the
farming communities and their environments, including
income-generating activities conducted by W.O. 6. Availability of
resources (Financial & Physical) to the FSC. 7. Service
oriented and not profit oriented system. 8. Management by the
farmers and for the farmers. 9. Ensuring effective technology
transfer and improvement farmers skills. 10. Ensure timely
availability of quality inputs /services to small farmers.
4. 1. Agriculture Extension is serving the farming community
since long. 2. The Agriculture Extension Staff was responsible for
distribution of agricultural inputs such as seed, fertilizer,
pesticides and fruit plants and other inputs.. 3. However, under
the revised policy seed, fertilizer, pesticides and fruit plants
was transferred to private sector and Agriculture 4. Extension
staff was exclusively spared for agricultural extension education ,
transfer of modern technology and motivation of farmers. 5. Since
1982 the inception of new policy, the distribution/supply of inputs
to the farmers has become very difficult, as private sector is not
reaching the remote rural areas. 6. Moreover quality and in time
availability of these inputs at reasonable prices is also another
problem. 7. Therefore farmers were facing great difficulties in
getting Agriculture inputs, resulting in low productivity.
5. A) Seed production will be carried out by the FSC through
its members with the support and coordination of the FSI. B) The
MFSC may get fertilizers/pesticides agencies for smooth supply of
inputs. C) The MFSC may hire cold storage if needed. D) The MFSC
may consider the joint marketing activities either through
establishment of separate markets or through supply to other
markets where the members can fetch better prices for their
produces. E) The MFSC may patronize the gender activities and
gender based entrepreneur-ship activities in the areas. F) The M.
C. will hold fortnightly meetings to determine the need of inputs
and chalk out strategy for functions and activities. The A. E and
A. will assist MFSC in preparing / programme for seasonal
activities in accordance with local needs.
6. The members of the MFSC will be trained in marketing.
Exposure visits of the M.C will be arranged to different markets.
The staff of A.E Department will collect the daily market rates of
the agriculture commodities and will be communicated to the Radio
Pakistan for daily broad cast. Agricultural produce prices in other
markets of the province/ country will be provided to MFSC for the
information of the farming community. When linkages of the MFSC is
created and strengthened with other markets then the surplus
produce can be sold in other markets by making bargain with the
parties / dealers of those markets. The MFSCs may establish their
own market procurement centre for the disposal of their produces.
Grading system of agricultural produce particularly fruit and
vegetables will be introduced in the MFSC area. Stores & cold
stores for the storage of produce can also be hired.
7. Any programme with single objective is likely to collapse
when this objective is reached. This is what happened in several
projects in the past, in Pakistan and in other counties. The safest
and probably to keep people together is by sharing a common
objective or common interest. The same applies to farmers,
organization to remain active and alive is likely to be boosted if
several common interest are identified and strengthened. The
objective of the FSC/MFSC is to develop and strengthen these common
interests, in a way that is sustainable thus requiring a minimum
support from the line agencies.
8. Good seed is fundamental factor of production in Agriculture
and play vital role in yield increase. Access to quality seed at an
affordable price is very high on the agenda of most farmers.
Availability of quality seed at farm gate has always been a
problem. Therefore it has been identified as a key problem to be
addressed with in the FSC /MFSC approach. Different strategies have
been developed to overcome the problem of access to quality seed.
Agriculture Extension (Seed industry scheme), ADA seed
multiplication plots, Barani seed centersetc but none of them has
been fully successful and/or sustainable.
9. In order to increase the chance of long-term sustainability,
it was decided to initiate an innovative approach called Farmer
Services Centers based on the following guiding principles. The
main objectives are to develop common activities, which are likely
to strengthen the binding forces, which exist within farming
community With these joint activities, quality seed production is
likely to be the most attractive one even if other activities must
be considered e.g. joint purchase of inputs (Fertilizer, Pesticides
etc) joint marketing, storage and food processing etc. All joint
activities should be implemented, conducted and developed on demand
basis. In order to be sustainable, a leading role is given to the
Agriculture Extension as it has strong network in the rural areas
amongst the farming community. The ultimate goal is the effective
improvement of the farming community (financial & technical
management by farmers themselves).
10. The Weaknesses Felt By the Inspection Team while visiting
Different MFSC in KPK As shown in the above model it was inbuilt
that all the relevant department must be placed at the MFSC and the
farmers would be benefited through one window operation , but it
was noticed that except at few places the staff has not been
directed to be available at MFSC , unfortunately the staff was not
available . The livestock department while asked for that live
Stock Officer is not available , the administration informed that
they have no spare staff to be placed at MFSC , which shows
disinterest of the Department , the same is the case of some other
departments at different sites,
11. Soil testing laboratories were the main infrastructure for
testing the soil , in this connection in nine MFSC the laboratories
were build , but they are not yet in operation since last four
years. It was decided that all the stake holders be involved in
getting their share in operating MFSC , Agriculture Extension has
taken the lead and Agriculture Research has not got their share ,
similar is the case of some other departments. The project has not
fulfilled the objectives of MFSC establishment as PC -1 was not
implemented as was inbuild , which shows that after the passage of
four years the farmers are unable to run these farm services
centers. Agriculture machinery in MFSC was not available the
machinery received from Agriculture Engineering was just of no use.
Which was not replaced?
12. Artificial insemination services as mentioned in document
was not given importance the facility is not yet provided at MFSC.
Agriculture Advisory services in all discipline was not given to
farmers as most of the president of MFSC are not trained and yet
not taking positive interest in MFSC development. Agriculture
Extension staff is posted in MFSC inthat MFSC which are under the
control of Agriculture Extension Department. 10.The membership is
not increasing as it was required in PC 1 , in some MFSC the
membership declined and farmers have taken their share back 11. In
present situation it was also noticed that the election was not
held in MFSC , and facilities were not provided in Farm Services
centers. 12. MFSC only confine the activities to agriculture input
provision , and did not care about other activities such as
livestock, soil conservation , water management etc.