ABSTRACT Inland-based fish farming in Kenya continues to draw enormous financial support by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Development under the Economic Stimulus Programme. The Fish Farming Enterprise Productivity Programme (FFEPP) entails the production of fish in a managed environment in marine and freshwater systems for food and commercial purposes. In-land based pond fish farming has been hampered by low level of fish farming, abandonment of ponds, and inadequate tr...
ABSTRACT Global warming has led to intensity of extreme events that affect agricultural production worldwide, and sub-Sahara Africa in particular, where economies are highly dependent on agriculture and adoption of modern technology is low. Kenyan agriculture is vulnerable to climate-induced risks and uncertainty manifested in low crop yields. Although potato is a food security and cash crop for many smallholder farmers in Mauche Ward of Nakuru County, its production is affected by variabilit...
ABSTRACT This study was conducted to determine factors affecting the job performance of agricultural extension workers (AEWs) at Handeni District, Tanga Region. Specifically, the study aimed at assessing the job performance of extension staff working under the public and private sector, identifying personal factors of extension staff that affect job performance, determining the relationship between the level of logistic support and the job performance, determining the relationship between th...
ABSTRACT One of the most inhibiting forces to successful development is lack of effective communication within and between different actors. Likewise, communication in extension organizations takes place within the organization and outside the organization among different actors. Hence, the overall objective of the study was to assess the communication patterns among extension personnel and between farmers. The specific objectives were: to explore the relationship between personal and sociop...
EXTENDED ABSTRACT Rodent pests cause significant losses on several cereal crops but more so on maize and rice crops and thus pose a threat to the food security in Uganda and the rest of East Africa. In order to develop an effective management strategy against rodent pests, it is important to understand the diversity, breeding patterns and population dynamics and key demographic and ecological factors that regulate abundance and richness of the major rodent pest species. The above aspects fo...
ABSTRACT This study on factors contributing to food insecurity to smallholder farmers was carried out in Mbulu district, Manyara region from September to December 2010.The purpose was to analyze the food situation; identifying limiting factors for optimal food production and to identify various coping strategies employed by smallholder farmers in a situation of food insecurity in the study area. Data for this study was obtained by cross-sectional design whereby random sampling was used to se...
ABSTRACT The study was conducted in Arumeru district, Arusha region Tanzania. The study examined the role played by ELCT-DME in poverty alleviation using Mt. Meru Coffee Project as a case study. Specifically the study aimed at (i) identifying key livelihood projects owned by ELCT –DME, (ii) assessing impacts of Mount Meru Coffee Project in coffee production in the study area,(iii) assessing impact of Mount Meru Coffee Project on poverty alleviation in the study area, and (iv) identifying c...
ABSTRACT Many conflicts between farmers and pastoralists have been witnessed in Tanzania. A number of measures were taken to mitigate these conflicts by the government at various levels over the years. Unfortunately, these conflicts not only continue to persist, fast becoming a nationwide phenomenon. Conflicts between farmers and pastoralists occurred also in Makomelo village where efforts were done to mitigate the conflict. Due to this fact this study intended to assess the effectiveness a...
Abstract This study addresses three distinct but interrelated issues in the integration of local food suppliers in modern food distribution in Tanzania. These issues are: What are key factors driving the development of modern food retailing in Tanzania? What factors influence the participation of local modern food suppliers in the industry? And, finally: What policies and strategies can be adopted to increase local suppliers‘ participation in the industry? The study used a critical realism...
ABSTRACT Agriculture contributes the highest in the country’s economy. Despite agriculture being taught in secondary schools, many secondary school graduates seem not to participate in farming activities in Nyandarua West Sub-County. Although it is not clear whether farmers who have studied agriculture in secondary school are making use of the knowledge gained and whether they find it helpful in their careers, there has never been any comprehensive study to investigate the relationship betw...
ABSTRACT The study on assessment of the effectiveness of teaching agricultural programme to adult learners in selected centres through Integrated Community Based Adult Education (ICBAE) was carried out in Tunduru district council in Tanzania. Specifically, the study sought to determine socio-economic factors of the adult learners in adult education centres and teachers’ characteristics; assessing knowledge of the agricultural programme in adult education centres; to assess the application...
ABSTRACT Limited access to accurate and timely market information continues to be a major impediment in the marketing of farm produce by farmers in Manga Sub-County, Nyamira County, Kenya. This limited access to market information has led to high cost of marketing and emergence of middlemen. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have the potential to assist in addressing this problem by creating awareness, linking and distributing information on marketing. It is evident that farme...
ABSTRACT Secondary school education in Kenya equips students with the knowledge, skills and competences that are vital for achieving their desired KCSE performance. The level of teachers of Agriculture job satisfaction can affect implementation of Agriculture curriculum as well as students’ Agriculture scores. In Nyeri County, public secondary-school students continue to perform poorly in KCSE with results from 2009 to 2014 indicating an aggregate of C- in Agriculture. This performance has ...
ABSTRACT Over the years, numerous intervention approaches have been launched to promote improved technologies in order to attain sustainable development. However, extension approaches, which have been the dominant rural development strategy, have been slow in transforming agriculture resulting from low adoption rate of SWC technologies that were aggressively promoted through extension programmes. Thus, this study examines the adoption and sustainability of soil conservation practices looking...
ABSTRACT Farmer Field School (FFS) approach is gaining prominence as an extension approach in most developing countries and its degree of effectiveness in influencing farmer’s uptake of knowledge for future use is promising. This study was conducted to assess the role of FFS as an approach in disseminating technologies to paddy farmers in Mvomero District. Specifically, the study sought to determine perception of farmers on FFS approach in knowledge development and dissemination of technol...