JBASV8N2A14 - Perception of the Extension Agents Regarding Information Sources of Sustainable Agriculture in Sindh Province of Pakistan

Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences - Volume 8 Number 2

Perception of the Extension Agents Regarding Information Sources of Sustainable Agriculture in Sindh Province of Pakistan

Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar, Saghir Ahmed Sheikh, Shuhabuddin Mughal and Mahvish Jabeen Channa

http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.14

Abstract: The study was undertaken in Sindh province to examine the extension agents perceptions of various sources of information. This study used a descriptive research design and the target population was Extension Agents. A representative sample of 162 Extension agents was proposed from six districts of Sindh, namely, 1. Larkana 2. Naushehro Feroze 3. Shaheed Benazirabad 4. Sanghar 5. Mirpurkhas 6. Badin representing the agro-ecological zones of Sindh province. The majority of the respondents 49.38% having their age in the range of 31-45 years. The data revealed that majority of the extension personnel 43.21% of the respondents were graduate level of education. The diploma holder's respondents were 24.69%. The majority of the extension personnel (43.21%) had job experience 21-30 years. Only 6.17% of the extension personnel had job experience of more than 31 years. The most frequent sources of information was perceived by extension agents about sustainable agriculture were television broadcasts,. However, Internet / Computers, Books and Manuals, Middle Man, and Electronic Devices (Mobile, Fax and other sources). The majority of the respondents perceived that Lack of effective monitoring (reporting and supervision) (M=1.26, SD=.058), Lack of Linkage between Research and Extension (M=1.06, SD=.025), Shortage of time to teach farmer properly (M=1.21, SD=.042), Illiteracy among farmers (M=1.141, SD=.061) and Lack of transportation facilities (M=1.21, SD=.042)as higher barrier that hampering the promotion and adoption of sustainable agriculture practices in the areas where they worked, this implies that proper guidelines and teaching aids had not been given to the extension worker to effectively work and communicate with the local farmer. However in sufficient funding for agriculture extension (M=1.71, SD=.061 Lack of means for upgrading qualification M=1.93, SD=.048), Large farm area (M=1.85, SD=.065), Lack of In-service Courses M=2.00, SD=.040), More time and management M=2.00, SD=.000) and Lack of Information about Sustainable Agriculture Technologies M=2.00, SD=.000) were perceived as a low barrier in adoption of sustainable agriculture practices.. This study will enable policy makers to effectively transfer the technology for sustained growth and will enhance farmers understanding about the concept of sustainable agriculture.

Keywords: Perception, Extension agents, information sources, sustainable agriculture.

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Effects of Carburizing Process Variables on Mechanical and
Chemical Properties of Carburized Mild Steel
A. Oyetunji*,1 and S.O. Adeosun*,2
1Dept of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering The Federal University of Technology, Akure Ondo State
Nigeria
2Dept of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos Nigeria
Abstract: This work evaluates the suitability of using palm kernel shell, animal bone (mammalian bones from cattle) and
sea shell (oyster shell) materials as carburizers for case hardening of 0.078%C mild steel. The mild steel sample used in
this study sourced from universal steel company, Ikeja Lagos Nigeria was cut into suitable sizes using hacksaw machine
for tensile and hardness tests. The carburizing media used were milled into fine powder while Barium trioxo (iv)
carbonate (VI) (BaCO3) was used as an energizer in the carburizing process.
Three rectangular stainless steel plate boxes were fabricated to accommodate each of the steel samples and carburized.
A calculated amount of each carburizer was weighed into each of the stainless steel boxes and 20 wt % of BaC03 was
mixed with each of them. Mild steel samples were covered completely in each of the boxes with the mixture of the
carburizer and energizer placed in the furnace chamber. The carburizing temperatures varied between 700 - 1100oC
while the holding time varied between 1-5 hrs. The boxes and its contents were allowed to cool down to room
temperature in the furnace after carburization.
All samples were heated to 850oC after been soaked for 30 minutes at this temperature and oil quenched. This was to
increase the hardness of the case. Fifteen (15) of these samples were further tempered at 350oC for 2hrs to relieve the
stress built up during quenching. Hardness test, tensile strength tests and chemical analysis were carried out on the
samples. It was observed that the hardness values of the untempered samples are superior to the tempered ones at
carburizing temperatures of 7000C, 8000C and 9000C. On the other hand, the tensile strengths of the tempered samples
are higher relative to the untempered samples at carburizing temperatures of 7000C, 10000C and 11000C. The results of
the carbon analysis show that palm kernel shell and animal bone are potentially suitable to be used as a carburizing
media than the sea shell at high temperatures (above 10000C) with holding time above 1 hr.
Keywords: Carburizers, hardness, tensile, carburizing time and temperature, pack carburizing, quenching and
tempering properties.