ABSTRACT In Kenya, there are gaps on the availability of studies of the specific extension approaches and their effectiveness on the adoption of technologies. This study sought to determine the effectiveness of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) in promoting adoption of best agricultural practices (BAP) by smallholder coffee farmers in Kenya. The target population was the smallholder coffee farmers in the CRI’s FFS pilot project numbering 4802. All the 117 farmers who trained and graduated in FFS w...
ABSTRACT In Mali, the agricultural sector occupies about 80% of the population and contributes to around 33% of the country’s GDP. The rural population represents about 60% of the Malian population and 33 % of the population live under the poverty threshold. The agricultural sector which employs the largest population is dominated by smallholder farmers who have limited access to production resources such as agricultural inputs and agricultural information and marketing activities. Conseq...
Abstract Information is a key resource for agricultural and rural development. Farmers require agricultural extension services to improve their agricultural productivity. However, this does not appear to happen as agricultural extension is constraint with limited number of agricultural extension agents, inadequate logistics for extension agents and late release of funds for extension activities. To contribute to improving agricultural extension services, this study seeks to determine the inf...
ABSTRACT The study was conducted to analyse production risk and technical efficiency of lowland rice farms in Ashanti region using adjusted stochastic production frontier. Cross sectional data for 2014 cropping season was collected from 200 sampled rice farms using multistage sampling technique. The results of the study revealed very low utilization of improved seed (42.8 kg/ha) by famers as against the standard quantity of 100kg/ha. Among the farm inputs used, fertilizer and improved seed we...
ABSTRACTThe study was carried out in Kamwengye district Kicheche Sub County in the westernpart of Uganda to assess the role of organic agriculture /farming in improving theagriculture of small scale farmers.It focused on the farming practices, potential benefits of organic farming, level ofawareness and the factors constraining the adoption of organic farming.The traditional practices that characterize the farming systems of smallseaie farmers andland size in most developing countries due to ...
ABSTRACT Mango has been the major cash crop grown by farmers in the Yilo Krobo Municipality. The productivity of this crop has been persistently low despite various private and public sector interventions. Studies have suggested that one key factor of productivity growth is efficiency in resource and technology use. This study estimated the economic efficiency of mango production to determine the scope for additional increase in mango production. A multistage sampling technique was used to ra...
ABSTRACT The study assesses credit use and its effect on profitability among smallholder maize farmers in the Brong Ahafo Region. A multistage sampling technique involving purposive sampling, stratified sampling and simple random sampling technique were employed to select the region, two municipalities from the region and 200 smallholder maize farmers respectively for the survey using well-structured questionnaires. The study took into consideration a description of the sources of credit whic...
ABSTRACT The study assesses credit use and its effect on profitability among smallholder maize farmers in the Brong Ahafo Region. A multistage sampling technique involving purposive sampling, stratified sampling and simple random sampling technique were employed to select the region, two municipalities from the region and 200 smallholder maize farmers respectively for the survey using well-structured questionnaires. The study took into consideration a description of the sources of credit...
ABSTRACT In the effort to establish the determinants of low milk productivity among the smallholder cattle farmers of Ugenya Sub-County. The livestock production is a key agricultural sub-sector commonly practiced in many parts of Kenya. The milk production has an important implication to the overall welfare of individuals and the society as a whole. The livestock products such as hides and skins are used in the industrial production of leather wears. These industries offer employm...
ABSTRACT The overall objective of the study was to assess the status of rice diseases under system of rice intensification (SRI) and farmer’s production system in Morogoro. A checklist survey in nine farmer fields was done and later experiments at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Crop Museum for two seasons. The experiment was laid down in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. The treatments were three different types of spacing 25 cm x 25 cm for SRI, 20 cm x 20 cm for ...
ABSTRACT Conventional Extension Approaches used over decades achieved minimal successes in creating impact in terms of agricultural production and improved livelihood of smallholder farmers in Kenya. The Participatory Extension Approaches, in particularly the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach have been tried widely and created positive impact in Asian countries. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) introduced FFS approach in 2001 as an alternative to conventional approach to promote...
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess on farm wheat landrace/ varieties) in Yem Special Woreda. A farmer based cross-sectional descriptive study was designed to assess on farm diversity of wheat landrace in Yem special woreda. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selection of agro-ecological zones, kebeles, and wheat growing farmers. Three kebeles from highland and two kebeles from midland agro-ecological zones were purposively selected. A total of 178 sample wheat growin...
ABSTRACT The study was conducted to analyse production risk and technical efficiency of lowland rice farms in Ashanti region using adjusted stochastic production frontier. Cross sectional data for 2014 cropping season was collected from 200 sampled rice farms using multistage sampling technique. The results of the study revealed very low utilization of improved seed (42.8 kg/ha) by famers as against the standard quantity of 100kg/ha. Among the farm inputs used, fertilizer and improved ...
Abstract: Climate change is a key emerging threat to the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. This study examines small-scale farmer adaptation strategies to climate change and climate variability, and the factors affecting adaptation choice inJimma, Southwestern Ethiopia. This research used a ‘bottom-up’ approach, which seeks to capture insights from the farmers. Primary data was collected through a household survey, focus group discussions and key informant intervi...
ABSTRACT Horticulture industry sustains millions of livelihoods in Kenya. Over the last decade, passion fruit has emerged as an important high market value horticultural crop following the establishment of new and expansion of existing large scale beverage producers that use local fruits for juice extraction. There has also been growing export markets and increasing numbers of health conscious consumers. Currently, the productivity levels are low, at 8 ton ha-1 compared to potential of 24 to...