ABSTRACT
Within the T and V system, the overwhelming majority of peasants or small farmers fall under the category of non-contact farmers; that is, they have no formal contact with agricultural extension agencies. The main premise for not contacting farmers directly is that the latest technology, techniques, and/or practices will 'trickle down' or diffuse from contact to non-contact farmers. The majority of non-contact farmers reported an infestation of one or more cotton pests, although proportionally far fewer did than the contact farmers. Non-contact farmers were also asked if they initiated contact with extension people from either the Department of Agriculture or Ciba. Non-contact farmers attending group activities preferred those sponsored by the Department of Agriculture because, as a public government organization, the farmers believed that it was more open to them and more apt to cater to their needs. The only mass communication method routinely employed by Ciba was the distribution of printed material used to supplement the group contact methods.
