Influence of Selected Alternative Extension Approaches on the Acquisition of Knowledge, Skills for Agricultural Productivity in the Lake Victoria Region, Kenya

Abstract

Abstract The role of agricultural extension is vital to the diffusion of new technologies, but extension is currently not very effective in many African nations, with traditional extension approaches having minimal impact. In Kenya, there have been gaps on the availability of studies and documentation of the specific extension approaches and their influence on the acquisition of knowledge, skills and productivity for household food security despite the various extension efforts and resources put in place in many parts of the country. This study therefore investigated the influence of three selected alternative extension approaches on the acquisition of knowledge, skills and productivity for household food security in the Lake Victoria region, Kenya. The main objective of the study was to compare the individual and collective influence of Farmer Field Schools, On-Farm Research and Focal Area approaches on the acquisition of knowledge, skills and farm productivity for enhanced household security in the Lake Victoria region of Kenya. A cross sectional survey design was adopted in order to develop a detailed account of the effect of the three approaches. The total population of the study area was 188,661 households from which a random sample of 396 was selected comprising of small-scale farmers from three sub counties: Bondo, Rachuonyo and Nyamira. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 18.0) at 5 percent level of significance. Findings revealed that Farmer Field School contributed to the acquisition of knowledge and skills in various agricultural production activities and an increase in farm productivity. Results on On-Farm Research revealed that it contributed to knowledge and skills as well as improvement of farm productivity. However, a hypothesis test showed no significant influence on knowledge, skills and productivity for household food security. Findings about Focal Area approach revealed that it contributed to the acquisition of knowledge, skills and productivity for household food security. Focal Area approach proved to be the most effective of the three approaches in the acquisition of knowledge, skills and productivity for household food security ; followed by Farmer Field Schools and lastly On-Farm Research. It is hoped that the findings of this study will contribute to greater understanding of agricultural extension approaches especially in policy formulation and design of the provision of extension services to communities in Kenya.