Philippine Standard time

An Assessment of the Effectiveness and Impact of Extension Program of Local Government Units in Region I, II, and III


This project assessed the effectiveness and impact of extension programs of Local Government Unit (LGU) of the Philippine agricultural extension system to provide bases in designing extension delivery system. The research covered six provinces and 22 municipalities in Regions I, II and III with 330 farmers and 66 agricultural technicians (AT) as respondents. The extension program assessed was the LGU’s agricultural extension projects/ activities. The farmers and AT respondents had identified Gintong Masaganang Ani (GMA), Gintong Ani, Plant Now Pay Later (PNPL), Barangay Livestock Breeding Loan Program (BLBLP), and KASAKALIKASAN as the programs where farmers participated in. The ATs said that all programs were effective because they were adequate and timely; the programs met specific needs and have support from various agencies particularly the GMA program. According to the ATs increased adoption of new technology, enhanced participation of farmers/fisherfolks and increased yield and income were the significant contributions of the GMA, Gintong Ani and KASAKALIKASAN. The same impacts were professed by the farmers who participated in the GMA program. Several methods or strategies were employed by the DA-LGU in the implementation of their extension programs and projects. Farm and Home Visit was rated by the ATs as very effective while the rest of the extension methods were rated as effective by both ATs and farmers. All the extension methods used in providing assistance to farmer-beneficiaries contributed in increasing the adoption of new technology, farmer’s participation in productive activities, income, and yield. A myriad of problems confronted the respondents in Central and Northern Luzon. The ATs mentioned the problems of lack of funds, inadequate farm to market roads, lack of traveling expenses, and inadequate irrigation facilities. ATs suggested the following solutions: (a) the government should provide more financial assistance to farmers, (b) rehabilitate/constructing road systems and establish marketing arm, and (c) increase budget allocation for travel and salary of ATs. The farmers’ major problems were lack of irrigation, low price of products and low farm production due to natural calamities. The respondents suggested that the government should provide irrigation facilities, lower the price of farm inputs, and increase the price of palay. Increase the number of animals for dispersal to augment their income was also suggested. Programs, services and assistance found very effective should be continuously pursued for the development of the farmers. LGUs should look into the problems of lack of funds and delayed release of project funds, inadequate farm to market roads, lack of travelling expense on the part of the AT’s, inadequate irrigation facilities, lack of participation of farmers in trainings, and inadequate marketing assistance to make the extension delivery services of LGUs more effective and efficient.

Citations

This publication has been cited time(s).