EVALUATION OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION OUTREACH PROJECT

This special evaluation covers the period 12/76-11/79 and is based on discussions with key personnel, on-site visits, review of project reports, and random surveys of project participants. As of 10/31/79, the training programs for the tambon agents, amphoe officers, subject matter specialists (SMS"s), and trainers were implemented in 25 of the 33 provinces, a total of 8,540 weeks of training were provided, and all training had either been completed or scheduled for completion. The program was closely adhered to, despite the late arrival of the consultants, its emphasis on theory rather than practical skills, and on quantity rather than quality and the lack of significant farmer-level training aids. Recruitment and quality of extension personnel was only fair, however. Shortages of SMS"s and tambon agents impeded the provision of extension services to farmers. Routine interaction among farmers, extension personnel, and research scientists did not occur as planned, although efforts were made in this direction. Final figures concerning an anticipated 50% increase in crop yields were not available. Spot readings, however, showed that harvest and income increased over 1977 and 1978. Recommendations were made to: (1) expand the time allocated to SMS"s for subdistrict and demonstration plot visits; (2) increase the number of SMS"s at the local and regional levels; (3) extend the audiovisual consultant services by six months and the life of the project by one year; (4) provide training for all contact farmers; (5) emphasize both method and result demonstrations during training; (6) extend training to the remaining targeted provinces; (7) assign new staff to their home regions; (8) reexamine the tambon agent-to-farm family ratio; (9) expand the training time spent on field observations and practical exercises; (10) provide annual refresher training and training in personnel management and supervision; (11) conduct a pilot trial of the video tape recorder; and (12) review the validity and utility of the crop modules.