Growing recognition of women's crucial role in the agricultural production system, together with the need for innovative changes in extension programmes and approaches to reaching rural women, are leading to to a major shift from the traditional male-dominated extension service to a more balanced model that includes qualified women. A practical step towards realizing this objective was the establishment of a diploma course for FEAs, provided by the ESMA Garhi Dupatta with the assistance of UNDP/FAO project PAK/87/008. A number of FEAs have since been produced by the Academy and, since 1992, many of them have been employed by and working for the Department of Agriculture Extension AJK.
NJVCDP became the focal point of this iniative, and the women's CDGs (operating under a philosophy of self-reliance, with some financial but mainly technical support from the project) were the launch pad from which to deliver extension messages through the newly trained FEAs. The rationale for adopting this modality was that it minimizes the negative effects of such constraints as limited mobility and safety and security of FEAs, and maximizes the convenience of client coverage, access to technical information and coordination of extension services.
The case study was designed to assess the FEAs' perceptions of the usefulness of the CDG model for delivering extension messages, as compared with the traditional model of contacting individual farmers and farm women. The opinions of members of women's CDGs were also ascertained, along with the opinions and views of administrators and supervisors at the Agriculture Extension Department regarding the FEAs performance under the CDG model.
Conclusions based on the views and opinions of administrators, extension assistants and CDG members affirmed the usefulness and desirability of the CDG model for sustainable development, although some limitations were identified.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Improved in-service training of FEAs
The scope and technical dimensions of extension activities are so demanding that most of the FEAs, given their low educational background and inadequate training, found it difficult to fulfil all of their job requirements. With very little exposure to the real-life situations that they were likely to encounter in the field, their efficiency remained far below the desired level. The FEAs themselves expressed dissatisfaction regarding the content and method of in-service training. These courses were mostly theoretical with little or no practical exposure or demonstration. It is, therefore, strongly recommended that the training courses for FEAs be designed to equip them to handle practical field problems.
Adequate expert advice
Subject matter specialists and advisory services play a special role in solving the practical problems of CDGs regarding the introduction, communication and adoption of technological innovations. The study revealed that the role of relevant subject matter experts had remained far short of CDG members' expectations. The FEAs' delay and, sometimes, failure in arranging visits from relevant experts was a matter of concern to CDG members. FEAs have only limited knowledge of some technical aspects, especially those related to poultry, livestock care and disease control, so specialist visits are particularly necessary. Another area of particular CDG dissatisfaction was the plant protection measures introduced by the FEAs; here too there is a need to improve performance in order to maintain the credibility of extension services in the project area.
Practical demonstrations and use of audiovisual aids
Teaching material such as charts and pictures should be made available to the field staff. Such materials should be properly displayed in appropriate locations where CDG members hold their meetings and workshops. Very little attention seems to have been given to this aspect. Audiovisual aids can also arouse much interest among the rural women.
Supply of quality inputs
Some of the CDG members were concerned about the inferior quality of fruit plants, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and poultry birds supplied through the FEAs. The quality of these inputs needs to be ensured by adopting specific mechanisms. Neglect of quality can have catastrophic effects on the extension programme.
Honouring of commitments
The feedback received from the CDGs, and verified by the FEAs, indicated project management's apparent lack of concern about leaving many commitments unfulfilled, especially the supply of certain inputs at the appropriate time. Similarly, appointments for meetings and demonstrations were not always respected by the project functionaries concerned. Lapses of this nature adversely affect the interest and confidence of the clients and communities. Extra care should be taken to fulfil commitments made with clients.
Provision of lower-level staff
Although all agricultural field offices at the union council level are supposed to be provided with lower cadre staff such as beldars, departmental constraints had led to some of the FEAs being denied this facility. This situation created problems in the transportation of extension materials and in the undertaking of physically demanding jobs (such as land preparation, cutting and pruning of trees).
Moreover, FEAs' security and safety in the field appeared inadequate. Whatever constraints they face, project management should ensure that much needed support services are available to FEAs so that they can discharge their job responsibilities more efficiently and effectively.
Expansion in the scope of extension activities
Project management should expand the scope of extension activities by involving more interest groups in their regular field activities, with a view to encompassing every aspect of, and economic activity in, the project area. Such subject areas as population welfare, health and hygiene, food and nutrition, storage of grains, vegetable preservation, food and fruit preservation and capacity building/skill development should become constituents of the regular activities of CDG meetings in order to improve the quality of life of women in the project area.
Impartial and democratic allocation of loans to CDG members
The project's microcredit scheme was observed to have been a great success and very popular among the people of the area. However, the project functionaries assertions of the impartial and democratic procedure that had been followed in assigning loans to members through the CCP were not borne out by observations in the field. In almost all the CDGs, the facility was first enjoyed (on a priority basis) by either the CDG office bearers or their relatives. Other CDG members had noticed this and expressed their disapproval. Project management should ensure that funds are distributed completely fairly in order to restore the reputation of the scheme to the larger interest of the programme.
Under application of CDG model
Since the new CDG model has proved such a success in AJK, its utility and usefulness should also be made known to the provincial agriculture extension services in other provinces so that they too can replicate it on experimental grounds. It seems to have the potential to bring rural women into the mainstream of the rural development process.
