Farmers’ willingness to pay for veterinary extension services and effects of paid services on livelihood outcomes: A study of community-based smallholder dairy of Satkhira region of Bangladesh (Pages 45-52)

Abstract

The focus of this study is to narrate the farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the dairy veterinary extension services. The study also aims at unveiling the effect of paid services on livelihood outcomes of the smallholder dairy farmers. In this regard, 255 randomly selected farmers of community-based dairy veterinary foundation (CDVF) were interviewed. Moreover, qualitative approach like key informant interview, focus group discussion and case study were adopted for achieving triangulation in findings. Study revealed that farmers were willing to pay because the services are cheap; 24 hours available in farmers’ community and friendly delivered at farm gate. Alternatively, farmers were bothered due to inconvenience in accessing the public extension services which were inadequate too. Community-based extension services have increased the production, income and employment of the smallholder dairy farmers which in turn have brought several positive outcomes in their livelihood. Livelihood outcomes varied due to variation in farm economic factors, paid extension factors and personal factors as well. The communitybased paid extension model of this study deserves dissemination throughout the country for promoting rural livelihoods.