What is Agricultural Extension Service?
Agricultural extension is a service or system which assists
farmers, through educational procedures, to improve farming
methods and techniques, increase production efficiency and
income, better levels of living, and lift the social and
educational standards of rural life.
What
do Extension Service Providers do?
The role of agricultural extension providers is to help
farmers make efficient, productive and sustainable use of
their land and other agricultural resources, through the
provision of information, advice education and training.
In particular, effective extension services:
- helps
farmers identify and overcome production, farm management
and marketing problems at farm level through the exchange
of information among farmers, extension staff, input suppliers,
credit agencies and marketing agents;
- helps
farmers make better use of existing technology, for example,
through more efficient use of feed, fertilizer or irrigation,
etc.;
- introduces
new technology to farmers, such as new breeds, new varieties,
new crops and new equipment;
- helps
in the successful creation of opportunities or situations
in which farmers gain the abilities and skills necessary
to meet their needs and interests in such a way as to
attain continuous improvement and self-satisfaction;
How
Does ASF Extend Support?
ASF encourages individuals & firms in the private sector,
having the required expertise, resources and an interest
in setting up ‘extension service’ businesses
on commercial basis, in any province of Pakistan as well
as FATA, FANA and AJK. ASF may share upto 50% of the cost
of such services (conditions apply), on matching grant basis
(non-returnable), for a specific period.
Interested
individuals / firms can submit their proposals in accordance
with the detailed Terms of Reference (TORs) along with a
processing fee of Rs. 10,000/- (refundable) in shape of
pay order / demand draft, in favour of ‘Agribusiness
Support Fund’. Details of TOR and budget template
can be downloaded by clicking the following links.
