A journey from farm service centers to model A Presentation By Mr Allah Dad Khan Visiting Professor Agriculture University Peshawar

2. A JOURNEY FROM FARM SERVICE
CENTERS TO MODEL FARM SERVICES
CENTERS IN KPK
BY
ALLAH DAD KHAN

3. FARM SERVICES CENTERS

 The basic concept of the Farm Services Centres program
is to provide a plate form to the farming community,
enabling them to resolve their issues of common interest,
particularly in agriculture collectively through developing
linkages with Govt. Line Agencies (GLA).
 The purpose is skill enhancement and to arrange input
before hand to be saved from any shortage and black
marketing. It is a volunteer, public private partnership
program.
 The objective of the MFSC is providing all relevant
facilities/services to the farming community (members)
under one roof for easy approach in short time

4. MANDATE OF AGRICULTURE EXTENSION
 Agriculture Extension is serving the farming
community since long. The Agriculture
Extension Staff was responsible for distribution
of agriculturalinputs such as seed, fertilizer,
pesticides and fruit plants and other inputs..
However, under the revised policy seed,
fertilizer, pesticides and fruit plants was
transferred to private sector and Agriculture
Extension staff was exclusively spared for
agricultural extension education , transfer of
modern technology and motivation of farmers.

5. MANDATE OF AGRICULTURE EXTENSION CONTD
 Since 1982 the inception of new policy, the
distribution/supply of inputs to the farmers
has become very difficult, as private sector is
not reaching the remote rural areas.
Moreover quality and in time availability of
these inputs at reasonable prices is also
another problem. Therefore farmers were
facing great difficulties in getting Agriculture
inputs, resulting in low productivity

6. HISTORY OF FARM SERVICES CENTERS
 The severity of the problem seems to be
intensified with the phasing out of ADA,FVDB
and Agriculture Engineering Department.
Keeping in view the sensitivity of the
situation, Agriculture Department established
nine Rural support and Farm Extension
Services Centers (RS&FESC) in the province

7. HISTORY OF FARM SERVICES CENTERS
 Each center was provided with one tractor
along with one set of farm machinery & Rs.
0.2 million revolving fund for purchase of
inputs & its sale to the farmers on cash &
carry basis. The main objective of
establishment of these centers was the
establishment of one window operation i.e.
all inputs and technical guidance relating to
each field and department were to be made
available at these centers.

8. HISTORY OF FARM SERVICES CENTERS
 The centers were not successfully working due to the
following reasons.
 1. The centers were run by the Agriculture Extension
staff and were completely Government patronized
which resulted in the misuse of Tractors &
Implements by the politicians in power and the
centers could not flourish.
 2. The membership was 120 only and the
contribution of the farmers members i.e. Rs. 600/-
each including matching grant of Rs. 2 lacs was so
small amount that the center was unable to carry out
inputs business

9. HISTORY OF FARM SERVICES CENTERS
 3. The farmers were not free in decision
making.
 4. The centers did not function as one window
operation.
 5. After removal of the deficiencies prevailing in
these centers and adding more inputs the ADC
Swabi Scarp Mardan established 10 FSUs
(Farmer Support Units) in the project area which
contribute more than 50 lacs with a matching
grant of Rs. 34 lacs. As such the total amount is
now 84 lacs with the FSUs having 5000
membership.

10. HISTORY OF FARM SERVICES CENTERS
 6. After impressing from the progress of FSUs
the Ex-Minister of Agriculture Mr. Obaidullah Jan
informed the Governor NWFP about the
achievements of FSUs. The worthy Governor
approved 25 Farm Services Centersthroughout
NWFP.
 7. Keeping in view the achievements of FSUs
and FSCs it was decided to establish such like
centers in FATA area for the benefit of the poor
farmers of the FATA.

11. PHILOSOPHY OF FSC
 Any programme with single objective is likely to
collapse when this objective is reached. This is what
happened in several projects in the past, in Pakistan
and in other counties. The safest and probably to
keep people together is by sharing a common
objective or common interest. The same applies to
farmers, organization to remain active and alive is
likely to be boosted if several common interest are
identified and strengthened. The objective of the FSC
is to develop and strengthen these common interests,
in a way that is sustainable thus requiring a minimum
support from the line agencies.

12. PHILOSOPHY OF FSC
 Good seed is fundamental factor of
production in Agriculture and play vital role in
yield increase. Access to quality seed at an
affordable price is very high on the agenda of
most farmers. Availability of quality seed at
farm gate has always been a problem.
Therefore it has been identified as a key
problem to be addressed with in the FSC
approach.

13. PHILOSOPHY OF FSC
 Different strategies have been developed to
overcome the problem of access to quality
seed. Agriculture Extension (Seed industry
scheme), ADA seed multiplication plots,
Barani seed centersetc but none of them has
been fully successful and/or sustainable. In
order to increase the chance of long-term
sustainability, it was decided to initiate an
innovative approach called Farmer Services
Centers based on the following guiding
principles.

14. PHILOSOPHY OF FSC
 The main objectives are to develop common
activities, which are likely to strengthen the
binding forces, which exist within farming
community

15. PHILOSOPHY OF FSC
 With these joint activities, quality seed
production is likely to be the most attractive
one even if other activities must be
considered e.g. joint purchase of inputs
(Fertilizer, Pesticides etc) joint marketing,
storage and food processing etc. All joint
activities should be implemented, conducted
and developed on demand basis.

16. PHILOSOPHY OF FSC
 In order to be sustainable, a leading role is
given to the Agriculture Extension as it has
strong network in the rural areas amongst
the farming community.
 The ultimate goal is the effective
improvement of the farming community
(financial & technical management by
farmers themselves). The following are the
main objectives.

17. MAIN OBJECTIVES OF FARM SERVICES
CENTERS
 Empowerment of the farming community.
 Equal facilities provided to all members, on a
transparent basis.
 Identification, prioritization and solution of the
problems using the available resources in an
optimum way.
 Establishment of a transparent and
sustainable system free from exploitation and
managed by the farmers/members
themselves

18. MAIN OBJECTIVES OF FARM SERVICES CENTERS
 Establishment of Linkages with
Governmental and non- Governmental
organization.
 Enhancement of latent capabilities and
potentials of the farming communities and
their environments, including income-
generating activities conducted by woman
organizations.
 Availability of resources (financial & physical)
to the FSC members on sustainable &
equitable basis.

19. MAIN OBJECTIVES OF FARM SERVICES CENTERS
 9)Service oriented and not profit oriented system.
 10)System where management is by the farmers
and for the farmers.
 11)Ensuring effective technology transfer and
improvement of farmers skills increasing production
of their farm land.
 12)Ensure timely availability of quality
inputs/services to small farmers.
 13) Making the Farm Services Centre services oriented
and non profit oriented organization.

20. HOW ACTIVITIES CAN ATTRIBUTES TO FARMING COMMUNITIES
 The main activities to be under taken by the
FSC, in order to reach the above mentioned
objectives are detailed hereafter (points A to
F). All activities will be conducted on a
demand basis, and will be organized and
managed by the FSC members themselves
(Management Committee), the AO playing a
role of Technical Advisor.

21. HOW ACTIVITIES CAN ATTRIBUTES TO FARMING
COMMUNITIES
 The list of common activities may be
extended according to the needs and
willingness of the members/farmers (majority
vote in case of difference in opinion)
 A) Seed production will be carried out by the
FSC through its members with the support
and coordination of the Frontier Seed
Industry (FSI). At the beginning of FSC,
quality seed production will be its priority
activity.

22. HOW ACTIVITIES CAN ATTRIBUTES TO FARMING
COMMUNITIES
 i) The FSI and Agriculture Extension Department will provide
basic seed duly declared as basic by the Seed Certification and
Registration Department, at mutually agreed price. For further
multiplication the FSC will sell the same to the seed growers
member at reasonable prices approved by the MC.
 ii) The Certified-1 seed production by the seed growers will
be procured by the FSC as per agreement TOP to be signed
between the Management Committee and Seed Growers.
 iii) The C-1 after cleaning will be stored by the FSC and will be
sold to registered members of the FSC at a price fixed by the MC
of the centre.
 iv) Seed Procured by FSC either from Extension
Department, FSI, Research stations or seed growers will be
cleaned at each FSC through the seed cleaner provided to them
by the Government or purchased by the centre.

23. HOW ACTIVITIES CAN ATTRIBUTES TO FARMING
COMMUNITIES
 B) The FSC may get one (or more) fertilizer
and/or pesticides agencies (subject to financial
feasibility) for smooth supply of inputs to the
members as well as to generate some income
for the FSC.
 C) The FSC may hire cold storage if needed.
 D) The FSC may consider the joint marketing
activities either through establishment of
separate markets or through supply to other
markets where the members can fetch better
prices for their produces.

24. HOW ACTIVITIES CAN ATTRIBUTES TO FARMING
COMMUNITIES
 E) The FSC may patronize the gender activities and
gender based entrepreneur-ship activities in the areas
where possible.
 F) The Management Committee will hold fortnightly
meetings to determine the need of inputs and chalk out
strategy for functions and activities. The Agriculture
Extension and Research will assist FSC in
preparing/programme for seasonal activities in
accordance with local needs.
 Representatives/experts of the sister
departments/line agencies i.e. Agriculture Research,
Agriculture Engineering, Livestock and Dairy
Development etc will provide technical support to these
center.

25. MARKETING STRATEGY
 The members of the FSC will be trained in marketing.
 Exposure visits of the M.C will be arranged to different
markets.
 The staff of A.E Department will collect the daily market
rates of the agriculture commodities and will be
communicated to the Radio Pakistan for daily broad cast.
 Agricultural produce prices in other markets of the
province/ country will be provided to FSC for the
information of the farming community.
 When linkages of the FSC is created and strengthened
with other markets then the surplus produce can be sold
in other markets by making bargain with the parties /
dealers of those markets.

26. COMPOSITION OF THE FSC
 A) General Body (GB) & Executive Body (EB)
 All member will constitute General Body.
 Executive Body:
 Which will be elected through proportionate representation of
members at Union council level at atleast 15 members from each
Union Council should come through election from the General
Body to form the Executive Body. Total membership of Executive
Body may range from 50-100 Nos. based on the total number of
members in the centers.
 Management Committee
 The Executive Body will elect the Management Committee
through proper election procedure.
 The Management Committee should consist of President, Vice
President, General Secretary, Finance Secretary and Information
Secretary.

28. MODEL FARM SERVICES CENTERS
 Although all Departments involving in the
Development of Agriculture were made
bound (As per by-laws) in these newly
created centers with more facilities but even
then the centers failed to function as one
window operation. This deficiency was
seriously felt by the Ex Secretary Agriculture
Mr. Shah Rukh Arbab. Hence he approved
24 model farm service centers from the
Government.

29. MODEL FARM SERVICES CENTERS
 Lack of coordination and scattered services
delivery was one of the factors which were
hindering the effective interface of the
departments with farming communities . To
enhance the coordination and service delivery at
district level the services of all the extension
departments will be integrated through Model
Farm Services Centers .The Public sector
Departments and representatives of the farming
communities will only run theses MFSC.

30. MODEL FARM SERVICES CENTERS
 . It would be a one window operation where
beside presence of all departments, essential
inputs like seed, fertilizers and machinery will
be made available. Creation and joint
operation of endowment funds will be the key
factor. Alongsidethe latesttransfer of
technology approaches such as FFS and
Participatory Technology development will be
the key extension interventions in agriculture
and livestock.

31. MODEL FARM SERVICES CENTERS
 In these model farm service centers
representative of the entire Department, with
soil testing lab and A.I centers along with
office stores, training hall etc. of Farm
Service Centers were kept under one roof so
that the center shall function as one window
operation in real sense.

32. STRUCTURE OF MFSC

33. THE WEAKNESSES FELT BY THE INSPECTION TEAM WHILE
VISITING DIFFERENT MFSC IN KPK
 As shown in the above model it was inbuilt that
all the relevant department must be placed at the
MFSC and the farmers would be benefited
through one window operation , but it was
noticed that except at few places the staff has not
been directed to be available at MFSC ,
unfortunately the staff was not available .
 The livestock department while asked for that live
Stock Officer is not available , the administration
informed that they have no spare staff to be
placed at MFSC , which shows disinterest of the
Department , the same is the case of some other
departments at different sites,

34. THE WEAKNESSES FELT BY THE INSPECTION TEAM WHILE
VISITING DIFFERENT MFSC IN KPK
 Soil testing laboratories were the main infrastructure
for testing the soil , in this connection in nine MFSC
the laboratories were build , but they are not yet in
operation since last four years.
 It was decided that all the stake holders be involved
in getting their share in operating MFSC , Agriculture
Extension has taken the lead and Agriculture
Research has not got their share , similar is the case
of some other departments.
 The project has not fulfilled the objectives of MFSC
establishment as PC -1 was not implemented as was
inbuild , which shows that after the passage of four
years the farmers are unable to run these farm
services centers.

35. THE WEAKNESSES FELT BY THE INSPECTION TEAM WHILE
VISITING DIFFERENT MFSC IN KPK
 Agriculture machinery in MFSC was not
available the machinery received from
Agriculture Engineering was just of no use.
Which was not replaced?
 Artificial insemination services as
mentioned in document was not given
importance the facility is not yet provided at
MFSC.
 Agriculture Advisory services in all
discipline was not given to farmers as most
of the president of MFSC are not trained and
yet not taking positive interest in MFSC
development.

36. THE WEAKNESSES FELT BY THE INSPECTION TEAM WHILE
VISITING DIFFERENT MFSC IN KPK
 Agriculture Extension staff is posted in MFSC
inthat MFSC which are under the control of
Agriculture Extension Department.
 10.The membership is not increasing as it was
required in PC 1 , in some MFSC the membership
declined and farmers have taken their share back
 11. In present situation it was also noticed that
the election was not held in MFSC , and facilities
were not provided in Farm Services centers.
 12. MFSC only confine the activities to
agriculture input provision , and did not care
about other activities such as livestock, soil
conservation , water management etc.

37. AUTHOR OF STUDY REPORT
 Mr Allah Dad Khan
 DG Agriculture Extension Incharge of Team
Who Established MFSC in KPK