Keywords
agricultural extension services
coastal Bangladesh
perceived effectiveness
climate change adaptation
How to Cite
Abstract
Coastal Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to climate change. Although Agricultural Extension Services (AESs) play a crucial role in promoting Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) to enhance farmers’ adaptive capacity, farmers’ perceptions of their effectiveness remain poorly understood. This study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods approach to assess farmers' perceptions of AES effectiveness in Koyra Upazila, Khulna District. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently from 9 March to 26 April 2025 using a semi-structured questionnaire survey administered to 190 farmers, complemented by focus group discussions (FGDs). The Perceived Effectiveness Index (PEI), one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis were used to examine perceived effectiveness and its determinants. Findings reveal that 76.8% of farmers perceived AESs as moderately to highly effective in supporting CSA adoption. Introduction of stress-tolerant crop varieties (PEI = 678), stakeholder involvement in decision-making (PEI = 638), and climate-related training (PEI = 614) were rated most effective. Conversely, credit facilities (PEI = 280), ICT use (PEI = 292), and infrastructure support (PEI = 306) were perceived as least effective. ANOVA results show significant variation in perceived effectiveness by age and farming experience. Regression analysis (R² = 0.311) identified age, training, and CSA adoption as positive predictors, while climate impact perception, farm size, and adoption barriers negatively influenced perception. Despite moderate success, substantial gaps exist in service delivery, especially regarding financial support, value addition of agricultural products, infrastructure development, fair market access, and digital support. Enhancing AES effectiveness requires greater integration of localized training, farmer participation, and access to enabling resources.
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