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Implementation of Decentralized Extension Policy in the Agriculture Technology Transfer Center in Kamphaengphet Province, Thailand
Dissertation Abstract:
This study was conducted to examine the extent of the implementation of the decentralized extension policy, which was carried out in Kamphaengphet Province, Thailand. Data were gathered through interviews, focus group discussions, and secondary data analysis. Descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank order correlation, and qualitative results were used in the analysis of data.
Findings showed important strategies applied such as staff capacity building, participatory extension approach, and the seven components of Kamphaengphet agricultural extension system. It was concluded that the implementation of decentralized extension policy in the Agriculture Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) was still in the form of deconcentration, where responsibilities and tasks were distributed from the central office to the local level, without fully transferring the power to decide on administration and management of services and resources.
Among the four groups of implementation; namely, administrative condition, resources status for implementation, strength of the institutional linkages, and characteristics of implementers, only the factor of the last group (i.e., skills of the implementers) showed positive significance in relation to the ATTC responsiveness. This may due to the bureaucratic Thai administrative structure, the complexity of the extension work, and the social and cultural practices of Thai society. To fully implement the decentralized extension policy during Thailand’s transition period, essentially, ATTC implementers should be empowered to be decision makers and their capability should also be enhanced.