Extension-farmers linkage and its impact on dairy production in district Peshawar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

A functioning extension-farmers linkage is extremely important for disseminating agricultural information to farmers as farmers ’access to and use of information can generate economic stability among them. This study was carried out in 2014 in district Peshawar with the intensions to examine the impact of extension-farmers linkage on dairy production, to evaluate the efficiency of extension-farmers linkage and to study the role of extension agents ’visits in improving dairy farmers ’income in this district. Results of the study indicated that most of the farmers were not aware of local extension office neither they had carried out any visits to livestock and dairy development department (Extension). Mostly farmers were not contacted by the agents of livestock and dairy development department. The study showed association of farmers ’visits to extension office with their milk yield each day and as well as extension agents visits with the monthly income of dairy farmers. It was concluded that though extension-farmers ’linkage is poor in the study area but it is extremely necessary for increasing farmers ’production and income. Visits by livestock extension staff are not regular; the respondents were not visiting the office of extension workers. Based on the findings it was recommended that Strong emphasis should be given to establishment of an effective linkage between farmers and extension agents so as to equip farmers with necessary information they need for increasing their production.