To analyze the future perspectives of agricultural extension services in mango production and marketing with special reference to World Trade Organization (WTO) in district Multan, Pakistan.
Lodhi T. E., Mazher Abbas, Muhammad Asif, Hussain D. A.
Author Affiliation: Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences 4 : 68-75
Abstract : Mangoes are one of the main fruit crops of Pakistan but it is under the threat of the World Trade Organization (WTO) regime. Against this background, the present study was conducted to analyse the agricultural extension services in mango production and marketing, with special reference to the WTO, in Multan district, Pakistan. Respondents included 90 mango growers, 15 middlemen (arhtees), and 15 exporters. From the agricultural extension field staff, respondents consisted of all the agricultural officers (10), one executive district officer, one district officer, three deputy district officers, one horticulturist and four research officers in the selected tehsils. This paper only presents data from the extension personnel. The research findings reveal that the level of awareness of the respondents about the various agreements related to the WTO was low and in some cases it was zero. The positive impact of the WTO as identified by the respondents was that it will be helpful in providing safe finished products to the consumers. On the other hand, the main threat identified is the total command over markets by developed countries through their higher technology and well-equipped industry especially in relation to the mango fruit and its byproducts.