ABSTRACT Research and extension must collaborate effectively through research - extension –farmer linkages in order to bring increased agricultural productivity, income and reduction of rural poverty. However, these linkages have been reported to be weak. This study examined factors influencing research – extension – farmer linkages in the Western Agricultural Research Zone of Tanzania. It focused on four districts in the zone namely Kasulu and Kigoma in Kigoma Region and Urambo and Uyu...
ABSTRACT In recent times, rice production can be said to be receiving some attention in Ghana. This notwithstanding, there are still wide variations in rice yield across regions due to differences in production systems and technologies. This study analyses rice productivity heterogeneity among agro-ecological zones and draws policy implications for the adoption of farmer innovation systems (FISs) and improved agricultural technologies (IATs) to enhance yield in Ghana. The study used primary...
ABSTRACT Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to model the impacts of land cover changes on stream flow regime in the Thiba River basin a sub-catchment of Tana River Basin covering a surface area of 1648 km2 in central region of Kenya. The basin is characterized by intensive agricultural activities including the largest rice irrigation scheme in Kenya. A study was undertaken to test the capability of the model in predicting stream flow response under changing land use conditions in ...
Abstract There are indications that the domestic demand for cassava particularly as staple food may in no time outweigh that of the industrial sector, except contract and non-contract farming entrepreneurs operate within the framework of sustainable agriculture. The study thus examines the effects of contract farming scheme on cassava production in Oyo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used. Oyo and Ibadan/Ibarapa zones were randomly selected from the four Agricultura...
Abstract: The diffusion of agricultural practices is shaped by the relationships among actors in the social systems and this influences the extent of their adoption by the farmers. The objectives of this study were to assess farmers’ social networks and their explicit role in the diffusion and adoption of selected Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices in Sheema District of Uganda. The mixed-methods approach including both qualitative and quantitative measurements to contextually collec...
The study attempts to investigate the level of awareness, access and relevance of information and communication technology (ICT) tools among cassava farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. Data were gathered through a survey interview scheduled on a total of 130 cassava farmers. The data were analyzed using frequency, mean, standard deviation, Spearman rho correlation and independent sampled t-test. The result revealed that, the mean age of the respondents was 45.3 years and mean years of farming exp...
Abstract Mitigating nutrient loss is a prerequisite of sustainable agriculture in the tropics. We evaluated three soil and water conservation technologies (mulching, minimum tillage and tied ridging) for two cropping seasons (long rains 2011, short rains 2011) at two sites in the central highlands of Kenya. The objectives were: to determine effects of the technologies on runoff, sediment yield and nutrient loads in sediment, and to assess influence of the technologies on maize yields. Experi...
ABSTRACT This study assesses the contribution of Agricultural Marketing Co-operatives (AMCOS) in poverty reduction to cashew nut farmers. The study was conducted in the Mtwara region, in southern Tanzania. The two Divisions of Newala District namely Newala and Kitangari were purposefully selected followed by a random selection of seven wards. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect primary data from 200 farmers, and seven Agriculture Marketing Cooperative Societies. Secondary data ...
ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to understand contemporary challenges facing extension services at the District level. The study identified level of participation of agriculture stakeholders in the process of extension services delivery, accountability process in the delivery of extension services, resource capacity of the district to deliver services and farmer views on performance of extension service in Hai District. The researcher used qualitative and quantitative methods to study a dec...
Abstract Kenya’s Vision 2030 identifies agriculture as one of the key sectors to deliver sustainable economic growth and improved livelihoods for the poor in the rural areas. However, the sector continues to face several endemic and emerging constraints that require special attention. During the first two decades after independence, Kenya’s economy grew at an average rate of 6 percent per year and this was substantially driven by a robust agriculture sector. However, until about five yea...
ABSTRACT The guine fowl is an abundant species in almost all the traditional homes, providing meat eggs and swerving as a source of income. The guinea fowl production is however read extensively in almost all house households in the three Northern Regions. The birds are left on free range to feed themselves. A few farmers however provide some form of accommodation during the night. This study was conducted to assess the Potential of the Agricultural Extension Delivery on Guinea fowl (Numidea ...
Food security is at the forefront of every global agenda especially in developing countries where most people are vulnerable to food insecurity. Globally, about 820 million people are food insecure, highlighting the enormous difficulty of accomplishing the SDGs Zero Hunger agenda. Several agricultural policies have been implemented in line with regional efforts to lessen the prevalence of food insecurity, with the goal of accelerating agricultural growth and enhancing food security level in n...
ABSTRACT This research is an attempt to assess the impact of grassroots participation on the adoption and diffusion of agricultural innovations packages (especially improved onions seeds) at Jebel Marra Rural Development project, Central Darfur State- Sudan. Moreover to assess the effect of personal characteristics: mainly: education and social status on the adoption of innovations, In addition to agricultural extension Services and programme. The Study selected Jebel Marra area and focusing ...
INTRODUCTION The first section of this chapter states the objectives an4 the procedure adopted for the study and gives reasons for choosing the Ejura and Wenchi areas for the study and centering it around tobaccoo This is followed by brief discussions of the geography of the two areas and the characteristics of the tobacco farmers. Agriculture in the two areas is then discussed and some of the bottlenecks to increased agricultural production highlighted. The final sections of the chapter trac...
ABSTRACT As part of the National agricultural modernization agenda, through the promotion of technology driven agriculture, efforts of research and development had over several decades now been concentrated on developing and disseminating improved technologies and best agricultural practices to farmers with little success. Maize, being the major cereal crop in the country, several projects have been implemented to develop the maize sub-sector. However, these efforts have not achieved the com...