Agric. Sci. Digest.

, 34 (2) : 81 - 86, 2014 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE

www.arccjournals.com
doi:10.5958/0976-0547.2014.00020.2

ATTITUDE OF FARMERS TOWARDS PRIVATIZATION OF

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES
Jasvinder Kaur* , P.S. Shehrawat and Quadri Javeed Ahmed Peer1
Department. of Extension Education,
CCS Haryan Agricultural University, Hisar-125 001, India
Received: 24-02-2013 Accepted: 13-11-2013
ABSTRACT
Haryana has become favourite destination for many private firms in recent times and they are
getting involved in various farming aspects. This study tried to analyze the attitude of farmers toward
privatization of agricultural extension services (PAES). The study was conducted during 2011-12
with 200 farmers to know their attitude towards private extension services for agricultural purposes.
Results showed that majority of farmers had favourable attitude towards privatization of extension
services followed by 32 per cent of more favourable attitude. Statement wise analysis of attitude
revealed that majority of farmers agreed on positive statements on privatization while some negative
statements had also got the good percentage of farmers. The study also revealed that socio economic
status (SES) was significantly and positively correlated with attitude of farmers towards privatization
of agricultural extension services. Whereas education, family type, land holding and extension contact
were other variables which also found positive and significant relationship with the attitude of
farmers.

Keywords: Attitude, Correlation, Extension services, Farmers, Privatization.

INTRODUCTION needs of various regions and different classes of

Global scenario at the end of the 20th century
indicates that we are in a great period of change
and agriculture is no exception to this. Agricultural
development is reasonably appreciable considering
the progress of 50 m tonnes in 1950 to 220 m tonnes
of food grain production in 2010. Among the several
inputs, resources and services requi red for
agricultural development, agricultural extension is
one of the significant factors. All over the world
agricultural extension assists the rural population of
remote areas to uplift their living standard through
increase in crop production (World Bank, 2003).
Over the years, because of its valuable contribution
to agricultural development, extension services
became a publi c sector responsibi lity. Past
investments in extension have yielded high economic
rates of return and are seen as one reason for good
global performance in food production (Alex et al.,
2002). With time there is an increasing realization
that public extension by itself cannot meet the specific
farmers and policy environment will promote
competitive private and community extension to
operate effectively, in roles that complement,
supplement, work in partnership and even substitute
for public extension (DAC, 2000). In recent years,
the need for involving private sector in sharing,
augmenting and supplementing public sector
extension efforts is being increasingly recognized in
India. Virtually every developing country now has a
mixture of public, NGO and private firms (e.g. seed
and fertilizer dealers) delivering extension assistance
to smallholders. The first and foremost reason behind
privatization can be attributed to declining trends in
governments’expenditures for extension in several
countries over the last decades. Financial burden of
government has forced to make sharp reduction in
budgets of public extensi on programmes.
Disappointing performance of public extension
services, low coverage of public extension system,
wide extension worker: farmer ratio, confined role

*Corresponding author e-mail: jasvinder.sidhu2012@gmail.com

1
Division of Agricultural Extection Edu, SKUAST- Jammu
82 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE DIGEST - A Research Journal
of village extension worker, commercialization of
agriculture and the existing market problems are
some of the other reasons behind privatization of
extension services in agriculture. But before making
any kind of decision about whether the existing public
extension services or the emerging private extension
services are good it is very necessary to know about
the attitude of farmers towards privatization of
agricultural extension services. Keeping the above
facts in view, the present study was carried out to
find out the attitude of farmers’towards privatization
of agricultural extension services and association
with socio-psychological variables.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Multistage sampling procedure was followed
for the purpose of the study. Haryana state is divided
into two zones based on climatic and ecological
parameters, namely, North Eastern Zone and South
Western Zone. To represent these two zones Ambala,
Kurukshetra and Karnal districts were selected from
North Eastern Zone, while Hisar and Fatehabad
districts were selected from South Western Zone
purposively. A list of blocks was procured from
Administrative Structure of Haryana and thereafter,
two blocks from each district were selected randomly.
These were Saha and Brara blocks from Ambala
district, Shahbad and Pehowa blocks from
Kurukshetra district, Indri and Nilokheri blocks from
Karnal district, Hisar-I and Hisar-II blocks from Hisar
district and Tohana and Bhattu Kalan blocks from
Fatehabad district. Hence, there was a total number
of 10 blocks selected for the present investigation.
Further, from each selected block, a list of all the
villages was prepared and two villages from each
block were selected by using simple random
sampling technique. The villages so selected were
Allahpur and Saha from Saha block, Mullana and
Holi from Barara block, Mohindinpur and Bhukkar
Majra from Shahbad block, Khiderpura and
Behimajra from Pehowa block, Biana and Badarpur
from Indri block, Padwala and Anjanthali from
Nilokheri block, Dabra and Gangwa from Hisar-I
block, Kirtan and Dhiranwas from Hisar-II block,
TABLE 1: Overall attitude of farmers towards privatization of agricultural extension services
Category Attitude score
Less favourable 28- 46
Favourable 47- 65
More favourable 66- 84
Akkanwali and Jamalpur Shekhion from Tohana
block and Khabra Kalan and Dhabi Kalan from
Bhattu Kalan block, respectively. Finally, 20 villages
were taken for the data collection. From every village
10 farmers were selected randomly to make a sample
size of 200 respondents and a structured interview
schedule was used for data collection. For the present
study, attitude was operationaized as individual’s
degree of favourableness or unfavourableness
towards privatization of agricultural extension
services (PAES). A number of statements on different
aspects of attitude were collected from available
literature, informal discussions with extension
experts and farmers to develop scale. The scale
consisted of 28 statements, out of which 14
statements were positive and 14 statements were
negative. Respondents were asked to express their
views on a 3- point continuums i.e. agree, undecided
and disagree. Weights of 3, 2 and 1 were assigned
for positive statements and 1, 2 and 3 for negative
statements. ‘Frequency’, ‘percentage’, ‘mean score’;
‘rank order’ and ‘correlation coefficient’ were
calculated to make a meaningful inferences.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Overall attitude of farmers towards privatization
of agricultural extension services: Farmers were
divided in three categories viz., less favourable,
favourable and more favourable with the possible
score of the subject range from 28 to 84 on
equidistance method i.e. minimum to maximum. It
is evident from Table 1 that more than half of farmers
(57.50%) had favourable attitude towards
privatization of agricultural extension services. while,
nearly about one third of farmers (32%) had more
favourable attitude followed by 10.50 per cent of
farmers who had less favourable attitude towards
privatization of agricultural extension services.
This might be due to the fact that increased
involvement of the private sector either in delivery,
funding, or management of agricultural extension
makes extension services more responsive to farmers’
needs and changing economic and social conditions.
n= 200
Frequency Percentage
21 10.50
115 57.50
64 32.00
 Vol. 34, No. 2, 2014 83
Statement- wise analysis of attitude of farmers’ on the basis of their mean score obtained. It is
towards privatization of extension services: The apparent from Table 2 that the highest mean was
mean score of each statement was obtained by for the statement “PAES can bring desirable changes
adding the weights given to the statement by in Indian agriculture” (mean = 2.80) ranked 1st,
respondent divided by the total number of the followed by the statement “PAES agencies provide
respondents. The mean score was worked out for advice based on field visits and charge more” (mean
each statement and rank positions were assigned score = 2.78) with 2nd position. “Better services and
TABLE 2: Attitude of farmers’ towards privatization of extension services (Statement-wise)
n= 200
Statement Response scorecategory Total Mean Rank
A UD DA score score
PAES can bring desirable changes in Indian agriculture 489 70 2 561 2.80 I
There is a little work and more propaganda in PAES 83 170 105 358 1.79 XXIV
PAES has more face to face contacts(person oriented) 354 83 - 518 2.59 IV
PAE agencies render services based on immediate 252 208 12 472 2.36 XIII
needs of farmers
Privatization of agricultural extension services is a bad 60 140 210 410 2.05 XX
idea imported to India from abroad
PAE companies show more inclination towards big and 90 94 180 364 1.82 XXIII
progressive farmers
PAE agencies usually concentrate on commercial crops 27 200 213 440 2.20 XVII
PAES are more demand driven rather than supply driven 273 194 9 476 2.38 XII
PAE sectors do not apply their resources to fundamental 20 100 390 510 2.55 V
food crops ratherthey contribute their input to high
value cash crops
Increase budgetary crises and fiscal deficit have forces to 288 206 1 495 2.47 VII
look into alternative ways of financing agricultural extension
services through PAE system
Most of the land holdings are small and marginal so PAES 51 164 201 416 2.08 XIX
are not suitable
Social development of people takes a backstage due to profit 77 80 249 406 2.03 XXI
motto of PAES
PAES has increased income level of farmers 420 20 50 490 2.45 IX
PAE companies neglect small farmers 73 154 150 376 1.88 XXII
PAE agencies provide erroneous information and have 51 164 201 416 2.08 XIX
advent of ‘more pay-more receive’
PAES opened up employment opportunities 291 206 - 496 2.48 VII
PAE agencies always try to push through their products 9 196 279 484 2.42 XI
without paying heed to what farmers need
Better services and trained manpower satisfying 366 156 - 522 2.61 III
clientele’s need
The farmers who do not adopt PAES are fool 240 170 35 443 2.22 XVI
PAES is not the need of the farmers 81 - 196 277 1.38 XXV
PAE agencies often sell adulterated fertilizers, impure seed 20 100 390 510 2.55 V
and expiry date inputs
PAES has ensured the accountability and quality of farming 240 194 23 457 2.28 XIV
related Services
Privatization has to be done first on experimental basis and 315 152 19 486 2.43 X
tried in areas where public extension has failed
Privatization increases farm management skills of farmers 318 188 - 506 2.53 VI
which made them more self reliant
Privatization increases responsibility of extension 258 154 37 449 2.24 XV
consultancies
Privatization has sideline the public extension services 56 140 222 418 2.09 XVIII
Privatization increases the bargaining power of farmers for 309 158 17 484 2.42 XI
acquiring information and services
PAES agencies provide advice based on field visits 2 80 474 556 2.78 II
and charge more
A= Agree; UD= Undecided; DA= Disagree
84 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE DIGEST - A Research Journal
trained manpower satisfying clientele’s need” (mean
score = 2.61) occupied 3rd position. “PAES has more
face to face contacts (person oriented)” (mean score
= 2.59) occupied 4th rank and “PAE agencies often
sell adulterated fertilizers, impure seed and expiry
date inputs” and “PAE sectors do not apply their
resources to fundamental food crops rather they
contribute their input to high value cash crops”
occupied jointly 5th position with a mean score 2.55.
Table 2 also showed that the statement
“Privatization increases farm management skills of
farmers which made them more self reliant” occupied
6th position with a mean score 2.53. “PAES opened
up employment opportunities” (mean score= 2.48),
“Increase budgetary crises and fiscal deficit have
forced to look into alternative ways of financing
agricultural extension services through PAE system”
(mean score= 2.47), “PAES has increased income
level of farmers” (mean score = 2.45) and
“Privatization has to be done first on experimental
basis and tried in areas where public extension has
failed” (mean score = 2.43), “Privatization increases
the bargaining power of farmers for acquire
information and services” (mean score= 2.42), “PAE
agencies always try to push through their products
without paying heed to what farmers need” (mean
score= 2.42) and “PAES are more demand driven
rather than supply driven” with mean score 2.38
occupied 7th , 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th ranks,
respectively. The statement “PAE agencies render
services based on immediate needs of farmers”
(mean score = 2.36), “PAES has ensured the
accountability and quality of farming related
services” (mean score = 2.28), “Privatization
increase responsibility of extension consultancies”
(mean score = 2.24), “The farmers who do not adopt
PAES are fool” (mean score = 2.22), “PAE agencies
usually concentrate on commercial crops” (mean
score = 2.20),”Privatization has sidelined the public
extension services” (mean score = 2.09) were found
13th, 14th, 15th , 16th ,17th and 18th ranks respectively.
Further Table 2 also revealed that the
statement “Most of the land holdings are small and
marginal so PAES are not suitable” and “PAE
agencies provide erroneous information and have
advent of more pay-more receive” occupied rank
19 th with a mean score 2.08 followed by
“Privatization of agricultural extension services is a
bad idea imported to India from abroad” (mean
score= 2.05), “Social development of people takes
a backstage due to profit motto of PAES” (mean
score= 2.03), “PAE companies neglect small
farmers” (mean score = 1.88), “PAE companies show
more inclination towards big and progressive
Farmers” (mean score= 1.82), “There is a little work
and more propaganda in PAES” (mean score= 1.79),
and “PAES is not the need of farmers” (mean score
= 1.38) were found 20th, 21st,22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th
ranks, respectively.
Correlation between farmers’ independent
variables and their attitude towards privatization
of agricultural extension services: The data given
in Table 3 showed that socio- economic status
(0.366** ) was found highly significant and positively
associated with the attitude of farmers towards
privatization of agricultural extension services.
Whereas, education (0.170* ), occupation (0.165* ),
land holding (0.182*) and extension contact (0.153*)
were found significantly and positively associated
with the attitude of farmers towards privatization of
agricultural extension services.
It means that these variables have
contributed in formulating positive attitude of farmers
towards privatization of extension services and also
important factors to alter the attitude of the farmers
towards privatization of extension services. The study
further revealed that age, cropping intensity,
irrigation facilities, social participation, mass media
participation, economic motivation, risk preference
TABLE 3: Correlation between farmers’ independent
variables and their attitude towards privatization of
agricultural extension services.
n= 200
Variable Correlation coefficient ‘r’
Age 0.091
Education 0.170*
Family type 0.165*
Occupation 0.072
Land holding 0.182*
Cropping intensity 0.110
Irrigation facilities 0.139
Social participation 0.131
Socio-economic status 0.366**
Extension contact 0.153*
Mass media participation 0.111
Economic motivation 0.107
Risk preference 0.125
Scientific orientation 0.115
*Significant at 5% level of probability.
** Significant at 1% level of probability
 Vol. 34, No. 2, 2014 85
and scientific orientation were found positively and increase in number of private extension agency
non-significantly correlated with attitude of the manpower required by them has also increased
farmers towards privatization of agricultural which opened the door for many unemployed youths
extension services. of society. These findings are in agreement with the
Overall attitude of farmers towards privatization observations made by Idrisa et al. (2008) who
of agricultural extension services: As far as the reported that most of the farmers were in support of
overall attitude of farmers towards privatization of privatizing agricultural extension services. More than
agricultural extension services (PAES) is concerned half (53.1%) of the respondents indicated that
the study revealed that 89.50 per cent of farmers ‘privatization of extension will bring about higher
had favourable to more favourable attitude towards frequency of contact between farmers and extension
PAES, which might be because of their experience agents’’. While 62.50 per cent strongly agree that
with private extension services. Private extension ‘there would be improvements in provision of
service ensures need based and timely services to appropriate technical information’and 79.70 per cent
farmers. This interpretation is supported by were agreed upon ‘timely and affordable input
Saravanan (1999) who found that 70.00 per cent accessibility’ in private extension. Similar results
farmers who were utilizing private extension services were obtained by Mercy (2008) also who reported
had favourable to most favourable attitude towards that about 73.00 per cent middle level farmers
PAES. Results had consonant with Yaghoubi and affirming that they had improved their production
Yazdanpanah (2008) who found attitude categories level and income with privatization. They claimed
of respondents towards privatization were having that they moved from farming for food production
favourable and more favourable attitude categories to commercial and even cash crop farming and as
and put together accounted for 66.8 per cent of the such they needed to get the right services at the right
respondents. Mojarradi et al. (2008) also evaluated time.
the farmers’attitude towards private crop insurance Further the statements like ‘PAE agencies
agents in Fars province, Iran and found that the often sell adulterated fertilizers, impure seed and
farmers’ overall mean score for attitude scale was expiry date inputs’ and ‘PAES agencies provide
3.42 indicating a positive attitude. advice based on field visits and charge more’have
Statement- wise analysis of attitude of farmers’ also got high score. This might be due to the fact
towards privatization of extension services: In that farmers sometimes faced the problems of impure
the statement wise analysis; positive statements like inputs due to which their production level was
‘PAES can bring desirable changes in Indian influenced and hence suggest constant monitoring
agriculture’, ‘Better services and trained manpower by some competent body so that farmers could get
satisfying clientele’s need’, ‘PAES has more face to pure inputs from private agencies. Private agencies
face contacts (person oriented)’, ‘Privatization work for their profits and provide services to farmers
increased farm management skills of farmers which who are willing to pay. Due to this profit motto
made them more self reliant’, ‘PAES opened up sometimes small scale farmers remained deprived
employment opportuni ties’, and ‘PAES has of quality services.
increased income level of farmers’got very high mean Correlation between farmers’ independent
attitude score of farmers. This might be due to the variables and their attitude towards privatization
fact that private extension services helped farmers of agricultural extension services: The study also
to have greater access to farm inputs due to which showed that education, family type, and holding,
they can improve their farming practices. As this is socio-economic status and extension contact had
era of globalization, today farmer’s needs and established a positive and significant relationship
requirements are very calculative and timely and to with attitude of farmers. Here it is evident that the
compete at global level he has to produce more attitudes of farmers were influenced more by the
valuable crops at timely fashion. Private extension physical resources like land holding, socio-economic
agencies easily provide all the facilities to farmers status and extension contact than psychological
which they need at their farms. Moreover, with the characteristics. Nearly 70.00 per cent of farmers
86 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE DIGEST - A Research Journal
were educated from middle to graduation level and analysis of attitude towards PAES indicated that there
hailed from joint family system. A farmer who was was a greater agreement with respect to the following
having higher education had courage to face the statement viz., PAES can bring desirable changes in
problem and to find out the relevant solutions in Indian agriculture, better services and trained
farming and who has interest and desire to seek manpower satisfying clientele’s need, has more face
changes in farming techniques to earn more to to face contact (person oriented), increase farm
shoulder the responsibility of family would have management skills of farmers which made them more
positive attitude towards privatization of extension self reliant and opened up employment opportunities.
services. Since socio-economic status included Some negative statements like; PAES agencies
several important traits viz., occupation, education, provide advice based on field visits and charge more,
land holding, social participation, farm power, agencies often sell adulterated fertilizers, impure seed
material possession, etc., it was likely to influence and expiry date inputs and do not apply their
the attitude of farmers towards privatization of resources to fundamental food crops rather they
extension services on positive side. While interacting contribute their input to high value cash crops were
with progressive farmers and private agents farmers also found on good agreement with farmers. The
exchange their ideas resulting in the development of study also revealed that socio economic status was
attitude. Similar results were reported by Saravanan significantly and positively associated with attitude
(1999). of farmers towards privatization of agricultural
The attitudes of farmers were influenced extension services. Whereas education, family type,
more by the physical resources like land holding, land holding and extension contact were other
socio-economic status and extension contact than variables which also found positive and significant
psychological characteristics. relationship with the attitude of farmers.
CONCLUSION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Results showed that majority of farmers This study was the maiden attempt in area
(57.50%) had favourable attitude towards of privatization. Authors are extremely thankful to
privatization of extension services followed by 32.00 farmers for giving the relevant response so that their
per cent of more favourable attitude. Statement wise attitude can be carried out on scale.

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