The Potential of Community Institutions in dissemination and Adoption of Agricultural Technologies in Emuhaya, Western Kenya

Abstract

This thesis examines the potential of community institutions and their networks in dissemination of agricultural technologies in Emuhaya Division, Vihiga District. Objectives of the study were to (i) identify characteristics of members of community institutions; (ii) describe networks used by those institutions to disseminate agricultural technologies and (iii) determine opportunities of using those institutions to disseminate agricultural knowledge. The rationale was that findings would be useful to communitybased workers and researchers, the government and international institutions that operate in Western Kenya. Network Theory was used as a guiding framework in this study Non-probability and probability sampling procedures were used to select ten community institutions, eleven key informants, and seventy-eight questionnaire respondents respectively for the study. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews, group discussion, direct observation and questionnaires. Excel and Statistica packages were used for data entry and analysis respectively. Key findings are as follows: one, eighty-eight percent of members of community institutions were resource-poor and relied on informal networks to gain agricultural knowledge; two, inadequate resources and negative attitudes among local farmers were major obstacles against effective knowledge dissemination; three, training, provision of credit, facilitation of learning trips for farmers, community drama were the main suggestions of enhancing dissemination and adoption of agricultural technologies. III Basedon this study, it is recommended that participation of community institutions in dissemination of agricultural technologies should be continuous with encouragement of collective activities. There is need to build confidence in local resource persons and involve these institutions in planning dissemination activities. Participation of community institutions in dissemination process need not to necessarily mean formalisation of social networks or loss of useful local traditional techniques of information synthesis. The ultimate goal should be to build upon them, and to strengthen an inclusive and collaborative strategy