Effectiveness of selected mass extension methods on access to agricultural technologies among smallholder farmers in Laikipia West Sub County, Kenya

Abstract

Agricultural extension services play an important role in boosting agricultural productivity worldwide. Mass extension service delivery methods have been used to inform farmers about agricultural technologies by the government both at National and County level. Despite the investment in selected Mass extension methods, access to agricultural technologies by farmers remains limited. The purpose of this study was to establish the effectiveness of selected mass extension -methods which included Agricultural Exhibition, Road Extension Campaign and FM Radio on smallholder farmers’ access to agricultural technologies. The study was carried out in Laikipia West Sub County. The study employed descriptive survey research design. The target population constituted all the 35,220 households in Laikipia West and an accessible population of 32,400 smallholder households who own farm size of 0.4- 2.5 hectares. Multistage sampling procedure was used to obtain a sample size of 128 respondents comprising of 120 smallholder households and eight senior representatives of the eight major groups of agricultural stakeholders. The study used questionnaire for both the smallholder farmers and the agricultural stakeholders. The validity of the instruments was enhanced by seeking expert guidance of lecturers from the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension of Egerton University. The reliability of the instrument was estimated after pilot testing. Reliability coefficient of 0.74 was obtained. Data was analyzed with the help of Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 24. Among Agricultural Exhibitions, Road Extension Campaigns and FM Radio, Mass extension methods, FM Radio was the most preferred effective method by smallholder farmers. The study concluded that FM Radio extension method was the most effective in promoting access to agricultural technologies among smallholder farmers in Laikipia West Sub County. The researcher recommended that County governments in collaboration with agricultural stakeholders develop policies to support FM Radio Mass extension method and to improve the exhibition and road extension methods so as to have diverse methods of extension service delivery.