The Effectiveness of Farm Field Schools on Conservation of Resources using Selected Techniques in Bondo and Rarieda Districts, Kenya

Abstract

Land degradation is one of the most serious threats to food production in the continent. The growing population is trapped in a vicious poverty cycle between land degradation and the lack of resources or knowledge to generate adequate income and opportunities to overcome the degradation in order to revert this vicious cycle. Bondo and Rarieda districts are also affected by land degradation, which is characterized by bare ground, wanton destruction of vegetation and poor farming practices. The Farmer Field Schools’ extension methodology and Non — Fanner Field Schools’ extension methodologies have been used to educate farmers on how to minimize the problem of land degradation. But is FFS more effective than NFFS in addressing problems of soil and water conservation? This study will provide the answer to that question. The purpose of the study was to detennine the effectiveness of FFS in enhancing the adoption of three conservation techniques (Contour Farming, Un-ploughed Strips and Farm Yard Manure Application). The study is important because it addressed priority policy issues of the natural resource conservation. lt used a cross-sectional survey design to collect data from a randomly selected sample of 150 FFS farmers and 150 Non - FFS farmers from Bondo and Rarieda districts. A structured questionnaire developed by the researcher and validated by a panel of ten extension and research experts was used to collect primary data after ascertaining its reliability through a pilot testing in Busia district with 35 FFS famiers and 35 Non - FFS farmers. The questionnaire’s reliability was 0.85 alpha at .05 confidence level. Secondary data was obtained from Govemment, other extension providers’ reports and research findings on FFS. Data was analyzed using Ms - excel and T - test for mean difference between the groups at 0.05 alpha level. Results indicated that there was a statistically significant difference in mean adoption of the three techniques between FFS and Non - FFS farmers. This finding led the researcher to conclude that the FFS extension methodology is a more effective extension communication tool than the Non - FFS extension methodologies. Consequently, the researcher recommends that extension providers be encouraged to use FFS more in their day-to-day agricultural extension communication work.