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Agricultural extension in Senegal is critical to increasing agricultural production among the nation's smallholder farmers who make up 60 percent of the country's 14 million population. The paper argues that whereas the Government has recognized the importance of an integrated rural development approach to holistic development and urges extension workers to become development facilitators it fails to recognize the importance of providing these agents with training in development and communication, otherwise known as “Communication for Development” (C4D). Therefore, the authors urge the government to introduce C4D training for extension workers as an innovative strategy for improving extension effectiveness in Senegal.

Policy formulation in relation to rural development requires research on rural household consumption behaviour and patterns. In this paper research implications of consumption function theory in relation to rural household expenditures are briefly outlined and results of a cross-section analysis of seven expenditure categories of food plot holders at Tyefu Irrigation Scheme are reported. Consumption function parameters are estimated by ordinary least square method of regression of farm account data. The analysis reveals that the sampled food plot holders have a marginal propensity to consume of (0.349) as well as average propensity to consume of (0.652). Family characteristics (used as explanatory variables) such as age distribution and family size vary in their ability to explain expenditure patterns depending upon types of commodity. Further research will help to rigorously assess the impact of additional forces such as education, location, farm assets, etc. upon the standard of living of farm people. ANALISE VAN VERBRUIKSBESTEDING VAN LANDELIKE HUISHOUDINGS INSUID-AFRIKA: 'N GEVALLESTUDIE VAN KLEINBOERE IN TYEFU BESPROEIINGSKEMA IN DIE OOSKAAP PROVINSIE Beleidsformulering vir landelike ontwikkeling, benodig navorsing in die verbruikersgedrag en -patrone van landelike huishouding. In hierdie artikel, word navorsingsimplikasies van verbruiksfunksieteorieë in verband met landelike huishoudelike uitgawes, kortliks geskets en uitslae van 'n deursnee analise van sewe uitgawe katogorieë van kleinboere by Tyefu Besproeiingskema gegee. Parameters van 'n verbruikerfunksie is beraam deur middel van 'n gewone kleinstekwadraat regressie van plaasrekening data. Die analise bevind dat die respondente 'n marginale neiging om te verbruik van 0.349 as ook 'n gemiddelde neiging van verbruik van 0.652 het. Familie eienskappe (gebruik as 'n verklarende veranderlike) soos ouderdomsverspreiding en familie grotes varieer in hulle vermoë om verduidelike uitgawe-

ABSTRACT

Cotton is an important crop in Pakistan as it contributes 1.0% of GDP and 5.1% in agricultural value addition (GOP, 2017). Despite the fact that cotton value chain has strategic importance in Pakistan in terms of its contributions towards GDP, employment, export earnings, poverty alleviation, and empowerment of women, its real value has not yet been realized. One area that has an effect on income of farmers and that has not received attention is the role of middleman in the agricultural marketing. The aims of this study were to address the skill gap of the commission agents and to develop techniques to bridge those gaps. Random sampling technique was used to determine sample size. The total sample size of the study was 50 respondents. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) was employed to analyze the collected data. Results show that most of the respondents were in their productive ages to make effective decisions and understand features of doing business. Of the total respondents 6% had no education while 94% had education of varied level. Respondents were experienced in doing business of cotton marketing. Most of the commission agents were having awareness gap regarding quality characteristics of cotton. Commission agents had moderate skills level in management of various marketing costs. Mostly the commission agents were not considering fiber fineness, fiber length, fiber strength, fiber maturity and contamination due to hair as factors towards low prices and poor quality of cotton. Weak capacity of institutional infrastructure and lack of marketing system was the major constraint in marketing of cotton. Commission agents should be equipped with training regarding maintenance of quality attributes, management of marketing costs and controlling of various factors affecting price and quality of cotton.