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Job Performance of Tambol Agents in Chiangmai, Thailand
Thesis Abstract:
The study aimed to: 1) determine the actual job performance of the Tambol Agents (TAs) based on the job prescription as rated and percieved by the Amphur Agents (AAs) and Contacts Farmers (COFs), respectively; 2) identify the factors related to job performance of the TAs; 3) identify the problems encountered by the TAs with regard to area of assignment, program implementation, target clientele, working with co-workers, and input suppliers and services.
Data were collected using questionnaires distributed among 16 AAs and 37 TAs, and by interviewing 362 COFs.
The AAs had an average age of 45.92 years. The majority of them (68.75%) obtained three-year vocational schooling while a quarter were university graduates. They had an average of 11 TAs under their supervision.
The COFs had an average age of 45.45 years and almost all were married. Most COFs had four years of primary schooling, but some were illiterate. They operated farms with an average size of 9.41 rai (1.5 ha).
The TAs had a mean average age of 30.67 years. Slightly over two-thirds of them (75.68%) were married, and had completed five-year vocational schooling. The majority (70.27%) of them had participated 2.22 times in training activities. They had been employed as TAs for an average of 5.17 years and earned an average of 4,686.27 baht monthly, or a range of 3,000 to 5,895 baht. Over one-half of them had less than 100 COFs each under their responsibility.
Selecting the COFs was the most frequently performed job while the least was using visual aids during discussions and recommending modern farm practices to the farmers based on the rating of the AAs. On the other hand, visiting the farmers was perceived as the most frequently performed job while the least was putting up of demonstration plots by the COFs.
Regarding attitude toward extension work, the respondents felt that the incentives given to them were inadequate. The respondents' negative attitudes toward COFs, supervisors, and areas of assignment were as follows: they had difficulty in dealing with their COFs; their supervisors did not listen to or consider their opinions and suggestions; their areas of assignment were very wide and this hindered them from returning to their stations within the same day, respectively.
Concerning the problems encountered by the TAs, lack of market center for products and supplies was the most frequently mentioned problem in terms of area of assignment. Regarding program implementation, lack of material resources in the locality was the most frequently mentioned problem in terms of target clientele. According to TAs, lack of rapport with other extension workers assigned to the same place was the most frequently mentioned problem in working with co-workers. Delay of inputs (supplies and services) was the most frequently mentioned problem in terms of problems encountered with input supplies and services. Among all variables studied, only the problem encountered by the TAs with input supplies and services was significantly associated with the job performance of the Tambol Agents as rated by the Amphur Agents.