Sarhad J. Agric. Vol. 23, No.

4, 2007

IMPACT OF TRAININGS IMPARTED TO ENHANCE AGRICULTURAL

PRODUCTION IN DISTRICT MANSEHRA
Mansoor Ahmad*, Mushtaq Ahmad Jadoon**, Imtiaz Ahmad** and Humayun Khan***

ABSTRACT
This paper examines the impact of training, on the agricultural production, imparted to the Community Members of the
Sarhad Rural Support Program (SRSP) working area in the four villages namely Batlang syeda, Lulo bandi, Singal kat and
Parian of district Mansehra during 2000. A number of Community Organizations members had received trainings in
agriculture, livestock and enterprise development. Due to these trainings the people have started farming on scientific lines.
The results were based on the data collected from 50% (70 in number) of the training recipients of the sampled villages. The
paper highlights the impact of trainings on cropping pattern, area and production of crops and income of the farmers. As a
result of the training crop yield has increased, vegetables and fruits production has also shown an upward trend and diseases
and mortality rate of the livestock has also been decreased. The study recommends extension of such programs to other
backward regions of the province to increase the pace of development in those areas as well.

Keywords: Agricultural Production, HRD, SRSP, Technology, Training

INTRODUCTION
Agricultural is the main source of livelihood in the
less developing countries and their development
directly depends upon the development of
agriculture (Tetlay, etal 1988). Like most of
developing countries agriculture in Pakistan is the
largest sector of economy. It contributes more than
24 percent of gross domestic products. Majority of
the people population especially in rural areas
directly or indirectly depends on this sector. It
employees more than half of the employed labour
force and is the main source of foreign exchange.
(Govt. of Pakistan-2000)
Human Resource Development (HRD) is not a new
phenomenon. This has been based on various
approaches over time. Before 1960s it mainly
concentrated on education and least was switched
to systematic trainings in 1960s and 1970s. It was
thought instead of emphasizing more on formal
education, there should be systematic and
standardized training/education for jobs in the
industries or skilled occupations. Focus of these
trainings was on young people and long terms
unemployed. During 1930s, HRD trainings were
more business oriented directed at improving
organization effectiveness.
The approach used after 1990s calls HRD an
integrated and holistic idea for change in work-
related behavior by using a wide-range of learning,
techniques and strategies. It emphases on personal
development in which individual recipient should
take the responsibly. It states that trainers should
decide, what they need to learn, resources
person/managers should plays a facilitator role,
instead of formal education emphasis should be on
practical experience of learner and should link with
work of the learners and development of the
country. (Megginson et al., 1993).
HRD is the process of increasing, knowledge, skills
and capabilities of all the people in a society.
Nadler and Nadler (1989) define Human Resource
Development as learning experiences, specifically
training, education, and development, organized
and provided by employers during certain periods
of time in order to encourage improvement of
performance and/or personal growth of employees.
Pajestka (1980) calls HRD a change in skills
knowledge, education, attitudes, self-awareness and
motivation to perform and act differently.
Agriculturists and other scientists have suggested a
large number of technologies/measures to develop
agriculture. This includes use of improved seeds,
chemical fertilizers, modern machinery, integrated
pest management, and contacts with extensions
agents. These technologies have been introduced
and used from the last three decades but in spite of
all this most of the developing counties have been
failed to achieve the desired goals of the
development. Prasad (1994) has advocated that for
transfer of technology and improving human skills
regarding developmental process training is an
important mechanism. To ensure agriculture
development present institutes needs to be
strengthened with well-planned system of training.
Pandey et al. (1993) has further suggested that
HRD is a catalyst, in using high yielding seeds,
optimum dosage of fertilities, and integrated pest
management for bringing about change in
agricultural production
Keeping in view of its importance, a large number
of governmental and non-governmental
organizations have placed HRD as one of the main
item on their agenda. SRSP is one of the
government sponsored NGOs established in
November, 1989 with a mission to built the
capacities of local communities through

Department of Agricultural Extension Education & Communication, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar - Pakistan

Department of Entomology, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar - Pakistan

Institute of Development Studies, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar - Pakistan

Mansoor Ahmad et al. Impact training imparted to enhance Agricultural production
participatory community based organizations for
sustainable social and economic development, with
a primary focus on rural poor and disadvantaged
groups.
The main objective of SRSP are to improve crops,
livestock and forest production, awareness about
community development, environment protection
and conservation, raise the income of people, help
people organize themselves and enhance the status
and contribution of the women. These objectives
have been achieved through natural resource
management, social organization, production,
infrastructure, credit and enterprise development,
HRD and planning, monitoring and evaluation
system.
Human Resource development program of the
SRSP aimed at building the capacities of villagers
and staff at grassroots and organizational level.
Agriculture, livestock and activist training were
imparted to SRSP staff and villagers. Under
agriculture the main training programs aimed at
extension and improvement of cereal crops, fruit
and vegetables. Livestock training include
livestock and poultry extension and animal
vaccination. Activist tainting aimed at enabling the
management skills and the major programs under
this heading include leadership, management and
skill trainings.
HRD is one of the emerging indicators of the
development of an area. It is now believed that
development goals cannot be attained without
enhancing the skills of the target population. The
present study was conducted to explore whether the
training can enhance the agriculture production of
an area or not and this is one of the pioneer attempt
on the topic. Further, agriculture and its
development is the major concern of all the
development agencies because of the association
and dependence of the majority of population on
agriculture. This on one hand will help SRSP in
observing the role of training in agricultural
development and on the other hand this successful
experience can be extended to other areas of
operation as well. It can further help the other
development agencies working on the subject to
design and implement their studies and
development projects on the basis of this study
results.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present study was conducted to observe the
impact of Human Resource Development (HRD)
activities on agriculture and its products. A number
of NGOs were working on the subject but Sarhad
Rural Support Program (SRSP) was selected for the
purpose as it was imparting trainings in the field of
agriculture and livestock in district Mansehra since
1212
1994.
Information regarding HRD activities of SRSP
were obtained from the head office Peshawar and
regional office Mansehra. On the basis of these
information four villages namely Batang Syedan,
Lulo Bandi, Sungal Kot and Piran were selected to
collect data. These were the villages that had not
only Community/Village Organizations but also
had 140 persons trained in agriculture and
livestock. A sample of 50 percent of their trainees
was drawn by using lottery system of simple
random sampling method. Data were collected
thorough a pre-tested interview schedule. During
interview every effort was made to explain the
questions and its purpose, so as to gather correct
and reliable information. The time of each
interview was fixed as per convenience of the
respondents.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Demographic Characteristics
Table I shows that 75% of the sampled trainees
were young, more than half (52%) of these
belonged to age group 31-50, another 23 percent
were more young and fall in the age group of 21-
30. More than three-fourth (77%) of the total
populations were literates and farming was their
main occupation (69%). Majority (63%) of the
sampled respondents who received training were
owner-cultivators and the rest tenants were more
(23.1) than owner-cum-tenants (14%). Studies on
input adoption consider education as one of the
most important factors that affect adoption
decisions (Asfaw and Admassie, 2004)
Types of Trainings Offered by SRSP and Received
by Community Organizations (COs) Members
Table II states major training programs that had
been offered by SRSP to enhance the skills of the
sample population in agriculture, livestock
enterprise and leadership development. Agriculture
development was the main focus of SRSPs Human
Resource Development program as 67% of the
respondents received training to develop
agriculture. Livestock development was other
important training received by 27% of the farmers.
Leadership and enterprise development skills
training were received by 3% each.
Agriculture Development Trainings Programs
Table III states that under agriculture two third
(67%) of the sampled respondents received training
to enhance the production of cereal crops. Another
25% got training to grow fruits and vegetables and
8% storage of seeds for next year crops. The table
also reports the high application of training
received by sample respondents. It states that
application of training was 100% for seed storage
Sarhad J. Agric. Vol. 23, No. 4, 2007
where as the practical use of fruits and a vegetable
was 83% and cereal crops 81%.
Effects of Trainings on Cropping Pattern Before
and After the Training
SRSP trainings programs effectively improved the
cropping pattern, use of agricultural inputs, area
and production of crops and income of the sampled
farmers.
Table IV states that maize and wheat were the two
crops and grown on 99 percent of the cultivated
area. Only a fractional land (1%) was under
orchards. The SRSP training program motivated
the trainees to enhance the cropping area that
increased from 1462 kanals before the training to
1222 kanals after the training. Major change was
reported for the area under vegetables, which
increased from 0 to 12% before and after training.
Another 100 percent increase was acquired from
the orchards area. These changes can be
considered, as positive trend on the area under cash
crops.
Use of Selected Inputs
Table V states that chemical fertilizers and tractor
plounghing and threshing through tractor were the
only inputs that were used by the sample farmers
before the training. The use of tractor was 91%
each for ploughing and threshing and 37% for
chemical fertilizer.
The training programs motivated the farmers to
adopt all required inputs. This resulted in 100% of
the farmers using chemical fertilizer insecticides,
improved seeds and ploughing and threshing
through tractor. This is a very great achievement,
while assessing the impact of Sarhad Rural Support
Programme on Agricultural development and the
changes in the socio-economic condition of the
people after the involvement of SRSP Jalil (2001)
found that in the area where literacy rate was about
83%, 50% increase was noted in maize and 43% in
wheat. The use of chemical fertilizer and
insecticides were increased from 60 to 100% before
and after the SRSP intervention and increased in
the number of livestock.
Without mentioning the percentage improvement
Abbasi (2001), While evaluating different activities
of NRSP under agriculture found high adoption for
improved seed of crops, use of chemical fertilizer,
live stock vaccination and credit programme.
Area and Yields of Crops Before and After the
Trainings
Table VI describes the area and yields of crops,
vegetables and fruits plants before and after the
trainings. It states that 99% of the cropped area was
under cereal crop (wheat and maize). The
1213
remaining 1% was under orchards. The training
programmes opened new avenues and opportunities
for samples trainees. Almost all the farmers who
were exclusively growing wheat and maize before
the training started giving special emphasis on
vegetables and fruits after the training. The area
under vegetable increased from 0 to 13% and 1%
for Rabi and Kharif season respectively as
corresponding to areas under orchards increased
from 1 to 2%. Potatoes become the second major
crop wheat in Rabi season where as onion and
tomato become the other crops in Kharif season.
Similarly due to more area under orchards the
number of apple, apricot and lemon trees increased
form 60, 32 and 4 to 214, 278 and 210 respectively.
Trainings further made a major effect on the yield
of both the already grown and new crops. The
wheat yield increased from 1.66 to 2.88
maunds/kanal before and after the trainings. A
similar increase, from 1.83 to 2.97, was also
reported for maize crop. The new yields of wheat
and maize crops are more than the average yield of
district Mansehra (2.11 and 2.9064?/kanal) and
NWFP (1.79 and 2.59 maunds/kanal) as a whole
(Agricultural statistics of NWFP).
Except onion, the average yields of potato (12.75
maunds/kanal) and tomatoes (7.81 maunds/kanal)
were also close to the average yield figures of
district Mansehra and NWFP as whole. The similar
increase was also found in the per tree production
(in maunds) of apple, apricot and lemon plants.
Other Effects of Trainings
Table VII states the other effects of the SRSPs
training programs. It describes that the training
programs along with new interventions created
more awareness (54%), improved farming (50%)
and most importantly increased the income (80%)
of the farmers. The awareness and new skills on
one hand enabled the sampled trainees to get
employment (26%), while on other hand it helped
and encouraged trainees to start business at village
level. The major achievement in this regard was
reported for the establishment of village shops
(9%), pesticide business (14%) nurseries for
commercial purposes (6%) and dairy farming (3%).
Latif (2001) found significant effect of training on
contribution of backyard chicken to household
economy in Mardan division, in terms of number of
eggs sold, gross, and cash income from the chicken
and number of birds sold. Training significantly
increased gross and cash income of the female
farmers in the area. AMJAD 2002 concluded that
the SRSPs-HRD Based Training positively
contributed to agricultural and livestock as well as
socio economic development in the area. The
agricultural training resulted in increased yield of
Mansoor Ahmad et al. Impact training imparted to enhance Agricultural production
almost all crops, fruits and vegetables. Similarly,
the livestock training resulted in increased size of
livestock, milk production and increased
vaccination and medication of livestock. Annual
mortality and diseases reduced and the income of
the respondents has also increased considerably.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Since HRD program of SRSP aimed at building the
capacity of local population for sustainable social
and economic development with primary focus on
poor and disadvantaged, the training at village level
were mainly imparted to manage village based
organizations and natural resources. To exploit the
village based resources in district Mansehra SRSP
gave special emphasis to agricultural development.
Besides, providing credit and identifying
agricultural input supply centers and places,
trainings were imparted to grow to improved seed
crops, followed by fruits and vegetables and seed
storage. Those who received trainings were mainly
young, literate and doing agriculture. Most of the
trainees applied the improved techniques and
technologies. Before the training wheat and maize
were the only crops grown in other study area
while after the training a positive trend was
reported in growing vegetables and orchards
besides the cereal crops wheat and maize. Similarly
tractor in most cases and chemical fertilizers to
some extent were the only inputs used by the
sampled farmers which after the training had not
only been increased to 100 percent but also the
trainees had started using insecticides and
improved seeds. On the other hand, as the sample
trainees had stared growing vegetables and fruits
Table I. Personal/Demographic Characteristics of the Sample Respondents
Personal Characteristics No (n=70)
Age
21-30
31-50
51-60
61 & above
Literacy Level
Illiterates
Literates
Occupation
Farming
Services
Business
Tenurial status
Owners
Owner-cum-tenants
Tenants
Table II. Types of Trainings Offered and Received by Sample Respondents
Training Types
Agriculture Development
Livestock Development
Leadership Skills Development
Enterprise Development
Total
1214
orchards, so area under cereal crops had been
reported decreased but for crops such as potatoes,
onion, tomatoes had been increased along with the
number of lemon, apples and apricot trees.
Though the area under wheat and maize had been
reported decreased but the wheat and maize yield
increased from 1.66 and 1.83 maunds/kanal to 2.88
and 2.97 maunds/kanals in addition to the income
they had from cash crops such as potatoes, onions
and tomatoes. The similar types of results were
reported for fruits production. Besides, enhancing
the agricultural production, the training also gave
them awareness, that improved their farming, some
also got employment on the basis of training while
other had started pesticides and other business on
small scale level. Some trainees had also
established nurseries and dairy farms. Besides the
trainees gave vaccination. As a whole training has
motivated farming community from cereal to cash
crops and fruits where besides the enhancement in
the area under crops and number of fruits trees, all
the farmers had started using the required inputs
and consequently production of cereal cash and
fruit crops had been increased. Training had also
created employment and other income generating
activities for many of the trainees. The study
recommends that qualified and competent person
be engaged for training in different fields especially
in poultry and dairy farming and enterprise
development to raise the income of rural
population. The training process should be further
enhanced through the demonstration of on-farm
trails of cash crops and continuous technical
support through project line departments staff.
Percentage (%)
16 23
36 52
8 11
10 14
16 23
54 77
48 69
14 20
8 11
44 63
10 14
16 23
Number Percentage
47 67
19 27
2 3
2 3
70 100
Sarhad J. Agric. Vol. 23, No. 4, 2007 1215

Table III. Agriculture Development Trainings Programs by Sample Respondents

Training Received (N=48) Applied (N=40)
Cereal Crops 32 67 26 81
Fruits& Vegetables 12 25 10 83
Seed Storage 4 8 4 100
* Figure indicates the percent of respondents who received that particular type pf training

Table IV. Cropping Pattern Before and After the Training

Crops Before Training After Training Percent Change
Area % age Area % age
Wheat/Maize 1454 99 1654 86 13
Vegetables 0 0 232 12 12
Orchards 8 1 36 2
Total 1462 100 1922 100 25

Table V. Use of Selected Inputs

Types of Inputs Before training After training
Nos. % age Nos. % age
Chemical Fertilizers 26 37 70 100
Insecticides 0 0 70 100
Improved Seeds 0 0 70 100
Tractor Ploughing 64 91 70 100
Threshing 64 91 70 100

Table VI. Area and Yield of Crops Before and After the Trainings
Crops Percentage Area/Trees Field (maund/Kanals)
Before After Before After
Cereal Crops
Wheat 99 87 1.66 2.88
Maize 99 85 1.83 2.97
Vegetables
Onion 0 4 - 9.4
Potatoes 0 13 - 12.75
Tomatoes 0 5 - 7.81
Fruits
Apples* 60 214 1.96 3.16
Apricot 32 278 1.25 1.59
Lemon 4 210 1.20 5.12
Figures under fruits show number of trees and yield per tree in maunds.

Table VII. Other Effects of Trainings

Training Effects Nos. % age
Agriculture
Farming Improved 35 50
Pesticides Business 10 14
Nursery Development 4 6
Seed Storage 4 6
Livestock
Dairy Farming 2 3
Vaccination 6 9
Enterprise
Small Business 6 9
Employment 18 26
Awareness 38 54
Income Increased 56 80

REFERENCES
Abasi H. (2001). Role of National Rural Support
Programme (NRSP) in the Management of
Natural Resources through Community
Participation. M.Sc. (Hons.) Rural Dev. Thesis,
NWFP Agric. Univ., Peshawar.
Amjad M. (2002) Effects of Human Resource
Development (HRD) on Agricultural and
Livestock Production in District Mansehra: A
Case study of SRSPs Training Programme in
Tehsil Mansehra. M.Sc. (Hons.) Rural Dev.
Thesis, NWFP Agric. Univ., Peshawar.
Mansoor Ahmad et al. Impact training imparted to enhance Agricultural production
Asfaw A. and Admassie A. 2004. The role of education
on the adoption of chemical fertilizer under
different socioeconomic environments in
Ethiopia. Agricultural Economics. The Jour.
of the Int. Assoc. of Agric. Econ. (IAAE). 30
(3) p. 215
Govt. of Pak. 2000. Agricultural Statistics of NWFP.
Jalil I. (2001) Impact of Sarhad Rural Support
Programme (SRSP) on Agricultural
Development in District Haripur: A Case study
of Union Council Bajeedah. M.Sc. (Hons.)
Agric. Ext. Thesis, NWFP Agric. Univ.,
Peshawar.
Latif, S. F. (2001). Impact of female livestock extension
workers (FELEWs) on household economy
contributed by backyard chicken production in
Mardan division. M.Sc. (Hons.) Agric. Ext.
Thesis, NWFP Agric. Univ., Peshawar.
Megginson, D, Jennifer Joy-Mathews, J. and P. Banfield
1993. Human Resource Development. Kogan
Page Ltd (Oct 1993) pp 160.
1216
Nadler, L., & Z. Nadler. (1989). Developing Human
Resources (3rd ed.). Jossey Bass Pub. San
Francisco.
Pajestka J., (1980). Basing Development Strategy on the
Human Factor: In Shigeto Tsuru (ed). Human
Resources Employment and Development.
Proceedings of the sixth World Congress of the
International Economic Association, Mexico
Vol. 1. pp. 3-29.
Pandey, S. N., S. Maheswari and U. Mishra. 1993.
Human Resource Development in Agricultue
Sector . Fertilizer Marketing News. 24(7):27
Pradad, S. 1994. Training of Agricultural development: a
basic functional area. J. Rural Reconstruction.
27(1): 25-37.
Tetlay K.A., and A. Ali, 1988. Techno-economic
inversions for Livestock Development. A
Preliminary Evaluation of the Feed
Improvement Prgoramme in Gilgit, Northern
Areas, Pakistan. P.2.