Task Performance of Kaset Tambon in the Southern Provinces, Thailand, 1992.

Abstract

Kaset Tambon is a front-line agent of the Agricultural Extension Department. His task performance should be elaborately studied since it affects vocational development of farmers and their families. The research objectives were to study the backgrounds and some responsibilities of Kaset Tambon, task performance, problems and obstacles. A comparison of task performance and task expectation was also made. The data were collected by mail questionnaires from 274 samples of Kaset Tambon. 14 Kaset Changwat, 14 Kaset Amphoe Muang, and 14 samples of other Kaset Amphoe, from the Southern provinces and analyzed statistically for percentage and arithematic mean. The finding revealed that nearly all of Kaset Tambon were brought up in the South. About half and half held bachelor degrees and diploma in agriculture. Three-fourths were male, married, and their age range was 30-39 years. Almost all had been working for more than 10 years. About two-thirds had a fifth-level salary (7,940-14,770 Baht). Almost half of them took care of more than one Tambon. About two-thirds were responsible for more than 1,000 families (4-5 members) and two-thirds had 100-199 farmer leaders. The farm and home-visit approach was mostly used by Kaset Tambon. Letters and telephone calls were seldom used. The farmer meeting was often conducted, however, the method and result demonstrations and field trips were moderately performed. The publication distribution was mostly made. Other mass methods were infrequently performed. Kaset Tambon moderately gave the farmers a clear ideal and positive attitudes towards agricultural occupation, and frequently helped farmers in problem-solving. The performances dealing with group formation, only farmer groups can be motivated. Reporting and coordinating with the government organizations or private sectors can be done infrequently. Some tasks infrequently performed were : giving advice on Yuwakasetkorn group forming, informing the supervisors about the activities performed, and providing a field observation for the others. To test the hypothesis by the t-test, it was found that only 9 tasks (20%) of all 45 tasks were significantly different from the expected task performance at the .05 level of confidence. Therefore, the hypothesis for 9 tasks were accepted, but the rest (36 tasks or 80%), were rejected. Two-thirds of Kaset Tambon reported that a delay in the project approvals caused a delay in implementation. A lack of resources and a delay in supplied provision also caused a problem. Recommendation : (1) The Agricultural Extension Department should continue a good policy on in-service training including appropriate promotion and local extension service be supported by adequate transportation and audio-visual aids. (2) The Civil Service Commissiong should provide more personnel to reduce a burden of Kaset Tambon responsible for almost 2 Tambon. (3) More telephone network should be put up in local areas.