Author : Sompis Karyow

Summary : This study, conducted at Songkhla province in the southern part of Thailand, aimed: 1) To describe the demographic profile of Tambol Agents (TAs) and Contact Farmers (CFs) in Songkhla, Thailand; (2) to identify the problems encountered by the TAs in establishing themselves in the villages of assignment, area of assignment, supplies and services, and working with co-workers, superiors, and farmers; (3) to determine the TAs' motivations to work; (4) determine the job performance of the TAs as percieved by the CFs; and (5) to find out factors related to job performance of the TAs. The data were collected by interviewing 22 TAs and 178 CFs. Findings showed that the TAs of Songkhla had a mean age of 27.7 years. Slightly more than half were single, and almost all of them had completed the five-year curriculum in vocational schools. Attendance in training averaged only two times, nearly 55 percent of them had a rural background, while majority had more work experience. Their monthly salary ranged from 2,025 to 2,865 Baht, and half of them work with more than 95 CFs. Of the CFs studied, the majority were over 43 years old, more than half were married and had four years of formal schooling. In general, the TAs had "less problems" with their work. Almost all of them were reported to have high motivation to work. Of the 22 TAs, 14 were found to have high job performance and 8, low performance. Visiting the farmers was a highly performed job and the lowest performed job was stimulating the farmers and rural youths to establish farmers' associations, home economics groups, and 4-H clubs. The Fisher's exact test showed that the TAs' and CFs' demographic profile, problems encountered, and motivation to work were not related to the TAs job performance.