The Effect Of Training On Extension Workers’ Performance: A Case Study Of Front Line Staff In The Suhijm Kraboa Coaltar And West Akim Districts In The Eastern Region Of Ghana

ABSTRACT Despite concerted effort at improving the extension delivery in Ghana, the performance of the Front Line Staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s Extension Services has been lower than expected. It is expected that among others, appropriate training will enhance their performance. However it is not clear what the nature and content of such training should be. The study therefore was to find out whether the content of training provided to the extension workers affected their performance and if so which content is likely to enhance performance. The study was guided by the assumption that farmers have needs, some of which are their training needs. That for the extension workers to be able to provide appropriate training to farmers, they should be trained in those needs. This is likely to enhance extension worker performance. A survey was conducted in the Suhum Kraboa-Coaltar and West Akim districts of the Eastern Region of Ghana using a checklist and survey questionnaire to collect information from the FLS and their farmers. Data collected included the content of training FLS have received, needs of farmers and the nature and content of messages farmers have received from their FLS, and their adoption behaviour. It was found that there was no difference between the farmers of FLS who have received wide and those with narrow knowledge with regard to adoption. However , farmers tended to adopt technologies in which the Front Line Staff received adequate training Personal characteristics such as educational background, total farmland available, and purpose of farming are important factors affecting adoption patterns. The findings VIindicate that the span of knowledge received by the FLS during training is not an important determinant of adoption behaviour of fanners, rather it is important that Front Line Staff are provided wit in-depth training in activities that farmers are engaged in. It is concluded that training in a wide range of subjects without going into details would not enhance adoption. This is critical, especially in the Training and Visit (T&V) management system where there is regular training. Such training should aim not only to increase span but in addition the content should be detailed. Personal characteristics such as educational background, access to land and purpose of farming are likely to be important basis of demarcating recommendation domains for extension messages.