Abstract:
The present study conducted a comprehensive investigation for assessing the front-level
extension workers’ performance based on their level of competence from farmers’
perspective. Famers’ satisfaction with agriculture and extension service was considered
as the dependent variable, while three skills, viz. conceptual, technical and interpersonal
skills of front-level extension professionals (here, SAAOs), were considered as the
predictor variables of the study. Data were collected from 120 farmers using a
structured interview schedule. Partial Least Square-based Structural Equation
Modeling was used to test the data using SmartPLS v.4 application. Results showed
that three skills jointly contributed 71.5% of the variance in farmers’ satisfaction (R
=0.715). Concerning the contribution of each selected skill, conceptual skill (β= 0.369;
p<0.000) was found to be the strongest contributor, followed by interpersonal skill (β=
0.373; p<0.000) and then technical skill (β= 0.166; p<0.045) respectively. Farmers
were highly satisfied with SAAOs’ competence and found that three skills have an
impact on satisfaction with extension service. To conclude, this study sufficiently offers
several practical and theoretical recommendations about proper and effective
structuring of the competence of SAAOs in agricultural extension service delivery that
would be helpful for the policymakers or for further research.
Description:
A Thesis
Submitted to Department of Entomology,
Faculty of Agriculture.
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University,
Dhaka-
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTERS OF SCIENCE (MS)
IN
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION & INFORMATION SYSTEM
