The effect of the national agriculture and livestock extension program (Nalep) interventions on the farm output in Kirinyaga district, central province

Abstract

The study seeks to establish the effect of the National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Program (NALEP) phase I interventions towards improving farm output in Kirinyaga District. Two focal areas, Nduini, Rwaithanga and their adjacent non-focal areas were considered for the study. The study sample consisted of 120 randomly selected households from within and outside the focal area. Those within the focal area had been exposed to the NALEP lnterventlons and those outside had not. Semi- structured questionnaires were administered to gather primary data. Discussions with the extension agents were also used to gather additional information about the program in general. Data on maize and banana production for the year 2003 was collected from farmers who are within the focal area (NALEP Extension strategy) and also from those outside the focal areas. Gross margins for the selected crops, maize and bananas, in the two groups were computed and compared. It is evident from the survey results that the NALEP extension program achieved reasonable improvement on banana gross margins (Ksh 46,488) in the focal area compared with (Ksh 23,232) out x side the focal area. The results support the policy of the farmeroriented extension service designed to meet the needs and demands of the small-scale farming population. However for maize gross margins (Ksh 5,930 and Ksh 4,296) within and outside the focal area respectively, the program has not yet achieved a significant effect in the study area as farmers continue to achieve negative gross margins. The effectiveness of the extension program interventions on maize production should be imp-roved. The NALEP extension strategy and the link to the appropriate extension stakeholders such as the credits or money lending institutions should be fully enhanced. This would help to address the problems encountered by many farmers especially in maize production.