Author : Ragavan Rajoo

Summary : The study was conducted to estimate the contribution of the different extension methods to rice production using a two-stage production function approach. Results indicated that attendance at mass meetings affected insecticide usage significantly and attendance at the other extension methods had no significant effect on the conventional input usage. For farm production, only attendance at mass meetings and demonstration classes affected rice production significantly. The "allocative effect" of attendance at mass meetings and contact initiated by farmers was greater than the "worker effect." For participation in demonstration classes, the "worker effect" was greater than the "allocative effect." The findings confirmed that the different extension methods contributed differently toward productivity of rice farmers. Also, the different "allocative effect" and "worker effect" indicated the different ways in which the extension methods contributed toward productivity of rice farmers in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan, Malaysia. The study had strong implications on the type of extension methods to be promoted. Modification approaches that will strengthen contributions toward rice farmers' productivity can then be identified.