Enhancing Tomato Growers' Productivity in District Harnai, Balochistan, Pakistan through Farmer Field Schools

Abstract

The research was carried out in District Harnai, Balochistan to examine how Farmer Field Schools influence tomato farming in the region. Data was collected from 80 enrolled farmers who were part of Farmer Field Schools in five different villages, using a well-organized interview schedule. To compare various factors, the collected data underwent a Paired Sample t-test analysis. The results showed that a significant portion (26.25%) of the farmers fell within the 36-40 age bracket, with a majority (62.50%) having no formal education. Moreover, 40% of the farmers had been engaged in farming for 11-15 years. Their primary sources of information were peers and fellow farmers. Notably, key aspects such as seed rate, seed cost, plant-to-plant distance, and row-to-row distance experienced notable decreases, while fertilizer and crop protection costs also reduced significantly. There was a substantial increase in both tomato crop yield and income. To enhance outcomes, it is recommended that agricultural extension workers increase their field visits to strengthen ties with the farming community. Furthermore, the government should consider subsidizing agricultural inputs and take definitive steps to improve educational opportunities in the study area.