Model farm services centers concept, objectives, activities and marketing strategy By Allah Dad Khan DG Agri Extension KPK

2. Model farm Services
Centers Concept,
objectives, Activities and
Marketing Strategy
By Allah Dad Khan Director
General Agriculture
Extension KPK .

4.  1.To improve accessibility to farmers to
quality farm inputs at nearest possible
location on reasonable prices.
 2.Improvements of farmer’s skill in farm
management ,planning and need assessment.
 3.Enabling the farmers to run the seed
production
 system and manage the inputs and their
distribution by the farmers.
 4.To create linkages of farming communities
with the line agencies, service providers and
facilitators.

5. 1. Empowerment of the farming community.
2. Equal facilities provided to all members
3. Establishment of a transparent and sustainable system free
from exploitation and managed by the farmers / members
themselves
4. Linkages with governmental and NGO’s.
5. Enhancement of latent capabilities and potentials of the
farming communities and their environments, including
income-generating activities conducted by W.O.
6. Availability of resources (Financial & Physical) to the FSC.
7. Service oriented and not profit oriented system.
8. Management by the farmers and for the farmers.
9. Ensuring effective technology transfer and improvement
farmers skills.
10. Ensure timely availability of quality inputs /services to small
farmers.

6. 1. Agriculture Extension is serving the farming community since
long.
2. The Agriculture Extension Staff was responsible for
distribution of agricultural inputs such as seed, fertilizer,
pesticides and fruit plants and other inputs..
3. However, under the revised policy seed, fertilizer, pesticides
and fruit plants was transferred to private sector and
Agriculture
4. Extension staff was exclusively spared for agricultural
extension education , transfer of modern technology and
motivation of farmers.
5. 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.
6. Moreover quality and in time availability of these inputs at
reasonable prices is also another problem.
7. Therefore farmers were facing great difficulties in getting
Agriculture inputs, resulting in low productivity.

8.  A) Seed production will be carried out by the FSC
through its members with the support and coordination
of the FSI.
 B) The MFSC may get fertilizers/pesticides agencies for
smooth supply of inputs.
 C) The MFSC may hire cold storage if needed.
 D) The MFSC 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.
 E) The MFSC may patronize the gender activities and
gender based entrepreneur-ship activities in the areas.
 F) The M. C. will hold fortnightly meetings to determine
the need of inputs and chalk out strategy for
functions and activities. The A. E and A. will assist MFSC
in preparing / programme for seasonal activities in
accordance with local needs.

9.  The members of the MFSC 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 MFSC for the information of the
farming community.
 When linkages of the MFSC 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.
 The MFSCs may establish their own market procurement centre
for the disposal of their produces.
 Grading system of agricultural produce particularly fruit and
vegetables will be introduced in the MFSC area.
 Stores & cold stores for the storage of produce can also be hired.


10.  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/MFSC is to develop and
strengthen these common interests, in a way
that is sustainable thus requiring a minimum
support from the line agencies.

11.  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 /MFSC approach.
 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.

13.  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.
 The main objectives are to develop common activities, which are
likely to strengthen the binding forces, which exist within
farming community
 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.
 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).

19.  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,

20.  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.
 Agriculture machinery in MFSC was not available the
machinery received from Agriculture Engineering was
just of no use. Which was not replaced?

21.  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.
 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.