SWOT Analysis of Extension Services Supporting Farmers’ Adoption of Natural Resource Management Practices in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Natural resource management (NRM) requires coordinated environmental, social, and economic action to ensure the sustainable use of land and forest resources. This study assessed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with extension services that support farmers’ adoption of NRM practices in four purposively selected districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: Abbottabad, Mansehra, Swat, and Upper Dir. Using a multistage sampling approach, data were collected from 381 registered farmers through a structured interview schedule. The analyses included descriptive statistics, five-point Likert-scale rankings, SWOT analysis, analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression. Among the respondents, 93.4% had received formal education, 57.0% identified the Forest Department as their main source of NRM information, 56.2% reported more than 25% dependence on natural resources, and 40.2% were satisfied with their current occupation. In addition, 65.6% did not know about policy restrictions on natural-resource use, while 47.7% rated their role as community representatives as “good.” The SWOT analysis identified training programs as a strength, inadequate facilities as a weakness, interdepartmental linkages as an opportunity, and limited participatory approaches as a threat. The regression model accounted for 69.2% of the variance in the reported adoption score. The findings indicate that extension agencies should strengthen participatory, farmer-centered activities, technical support, and feedback mechanisms. However, the results should be interpreted cautiously because the districts were selected purposively and the data were cross-sectional and self-reported.