Influence of selected alternative extension approaches on the acquisition of knowledge and skills for improved farm productivity and household food security in the Lake Victoria region, Kenya

Abstract

The role of agricultural extension is vital to the diffusion of new technologies, but extension is currently not very effective in many African nations, with conventional extension approaches having minimal impact. In Kenya, there have been gaps on the availability of studies and documentation of the specific extension approaches and their influence on the acquisition of knowledge and skills for improved farm productivity despite the various extension efforts and resources put in place in many parts of the country. This study therefore investigated the influence of three selected alternative extension approaches namely: Farmer Field Schools, On-Farm Research and Focal Area approaches on the acquisition of knowledge and skills for improved farm productivity and household food security in the Lake Victoria Region, Kenya. The purpose of the study was to compare the individual and collective influence of each approach on the acquisition of knowledge and skills and their contribution farm productivity and household food security in the Lake Victoria region of Kenya. A cross sectional survey design was adopted in order to develop a detailed account of the effect of the three approaches. The total population of the study area was 188,661 households from which a random sample of 396 was selected comprising of small-scale farmers from three Sub -Counties: Bondo, Rachuonyo and Nyamira. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 18.0) at 5 percent level of significance. Findings revealed that Farmer Field Schools contributed most to the acquisition of knowledge and skills in various agricultural production activities and an increase in farm productivity. Results on On-Farm Research revealed that it contributed to knowledge and skills as well as improvement of farm productivity, especially on livestock based technologies; however, a hypothesis test showed that the approach had no significant influence on knowledge and skills for improved farm productivity and household food security. Findings about Focal Area approach revealed that it contributed to the acquisition of knowledge and skills for improved farm productivity followed by Farmer Field Schools and lastly On-Farm Research. The study recommends that the Ministry of Agriculture and research organizations use Farmer Field Schools and Focal Area approaches in technology development and transfer; however On-Farm Research should be used in combination with other approaches.