Abstract:
Cassava production is critical to household food security in Kuria and Migori Districts. The adoption of improved cassava varieties has been low largely due to non-participatory extension approaches. PM&E at the community level is a relatively new approach and there has been considerable lack of emphasis on community-based monitoring and evaluation indicators during the development of technologies in Kenya. This study investigated the socio-cultural and economic based monitoring and evaluation indicators used by Kuria and Luo Communities in adopting improved cassava varieties in the two districts. The study design was cross-sectional survey. The study used both qualitative and quantitative participatory survey tools. Stratified proportionate random sampling was used to select l84 households and 8 farmer groups for the study. The study used a structured questiormaire to collect data from farmers in order to obtain information relating to the use of local M&E indicators used for the selection and adoption of cassava varieties in the two districts. Focus group discussion was used to initially identify socio-cultural and economic PM&E in the two communities. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Computer Programme. Data analyses used included both descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive statistics used included percentages, means and standard deviation while Independent t-test and Rank order correlation were used for inferential statistics at the 5% level of significance (<>< = 0.05). The study identified socio-cultural and economic community-based PM&E Indicators for selection and adoption of cassava varieties in the two districts. The study found no significant differences and significant differences in some of the socio-cultural and economic indicators. The study also found that the adoption of improved cassava varieties is low in the two districts. The identified community-based participatory monitoring and evaluation indicators would help in enhancing scaling up of cassava technology development, packaging and technology dissemination strategies by researchers, extension agents and farmers. The study recommends the incorporation of local indicators during development and dissemination of technologies by research institutions as this would help in enhancing the uptake of new technologies developed.
