Farmers’ perception about skills of extension workers in enhancing tomato production in District Peshawarwith reference to climate change

Abstract

This study analyzed farmers’ perception about extension workers’ skills in enhancing tomato production with reference to climate change in District Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Two villages were taken purposively from three union councils of Town 2 in District Peshawar for data collection. Data were collected data through a well-structured interview schedule which was analyzed using SPSS V.20 software. Descriptive statistics, likert scale was used. Thirty-one percent of respondents were found in the age of above 40 years with 37% of respondents having 1-2 acres of land. Moreover, maximum tomato growers were literate in joint families, whereas the majority was small landholders and owner cultivators. About 31% of tomato growers were getting Pakistani Rupees 40,000-80,000 per season as a maximum (52%) of them were getting 3,001-6,000 kg/acre tomato production from local varieties. Farmers' perceptions about extension workers' familiarity with climate change on record-keeping about climate change issue were ranked 1st with highest mean value 3.22 and standard deviation 0.98 and recording and reporting climate change were ranked 2nd with higher mean value 2.69 and standard deviation 0.99, while understanding and communicating weather forecast was ranked 4th with lowest mean value 2.50 and standard deviation 1.10.  The study recommends that extension personnel should visit tomato growers regularly at each stage of tomato growing which was highly discouraging in regards to visits for addressing their issues regarding climate change and weather suitability of tomato varieties for getting higher production. Local agriculture programs should be broadcast on FM radio channels in the local language and pamphlets may be used.