I am grateful to Dr. T. E. Contado, Chief, ESHE, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, and Chairman of my Advisory Committee, for his valuable guidance, constant encouragement, constructive criticism and untiring help in finalisation of this report.
I express my sincere gratitude to Dr. M. Randriamamonjy, Senior Officer, ESHW, and Dr. R. Adhikarya, Extension Education and Training Methodology Specialist, ESHE, FAO, Rome, for acting as members of the Advisory Committee and for providing useful suggestions for the design and analysis of the data of this research study.
I am grateful to the Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, for offering me this André Mayer research fellowship, giving me the opportunity to undertake this research and study this important subject, to work with people from different countries, and to learn how to use the computer during the study period.
I gratefully acknowledge the constant help and encouragement rendered by Dr. Pote Boonruang, Head, Rural Studies Centre, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand, Dr. Earl E. Timothy, Head & Director, Department of Agricultural Extension, University of the West Indies, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Dr. Carol E. Williams, Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural Extension Services, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and Mr. Rajab Ali, Director, Department of Agricultural Extension, Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Syria, during the course of this investigation. I also acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr. Singthong, former Dean, K. U. Bangkok, Thailand, Dr. Sree Prasad, Professor, U. W. I, and Mrs. Meryl James Bryan, Director, Caribbean Net Work for Integrated Rural Development, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Dr. J. E. Olawoye, Assistant Professor, University of Ibadan, and Mrs. C. Nnonyely, Programme Leader Extension, VIA, Nigeria, Miss Rowyada Hasbani, Chief, Rural Home Economics Division and Mrs. Bachira Taouakalna, Director of Women's Union, Syria, for their immense help, suggestions and encouragement during the course of this study.
I also express my gratitude to Mr. R. A. Maine, Fishery Industries Officer, Ms. Martina Haslwimmer, APO, AGSP, Mr Günter Hemrich, APO, ESHE, Mr. Stefan Schlingloff, APO, ESHA, and Mrs. R. Lobb Maltsoglou, Training Programmes Assistant, ESHE, FAO, for immense encouragement and inspiration during the course of study.
I honour the full co-operation, assistance and inspiration of Mr. Jean-Marc Meyour, Senior Officer, Fellowships Group, FAO, during the entire period of this investigation .
I would like to thank the Vice Chancellor of the Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India, for releasing me to take up the fellowship.
With deep sense of gratitude I must specially thank my husband, Dr. Bubul Das, for his understanding and my family members for their constant encouragement during the entire period of this investigation and preparation of this report.
Finally, I wish to thank all the people who have kindly responded to my queries. There are many officers both at FAO Headquarters and in different countries who have offered valuable suggestions. They are too numerous to list here, but will recognize their contributions to this study. Their help is very much appreciated.
Manju Dutta Das
An André Mayer Research Fellow
1993 - 94
