Review of agricultural extension interventions in unlocking agriculture potential through medium sized farms, Kenya

Abstract

The rural population of semi - arid lands in Kenya face multiple challenges that result from population growth, poor markets, land use and climatic cha nges. In particular, subsistence oriented farmers face various risks and opportunities in their attempt to secure their livelihoods . Research programmes have been initiated nationally; regionally and internationally to breed and produce i mproved value chains . However, this has not achieved much impact in terms of information and technology transfer at both smallholders’ and medium size farmers’ hence poor adoption rates and minimal yields and income abide . These uneconomical yields gap between what is a chieved in research stations and farmers’ fields’ poses food security concerns on the future of African agriculture without substantial investments in participatory extension approaches. The current report therefore presents literature review on extension approach es on promotion , productivity a nd commercialisation of various value chains . The overa ll objective of the report was to review barriers and opportunities that exist in agricultural extension approaches in enhancing production and commercialia tion of various value chains . Further, to identify alternative agricultural extension model s among other stakeholders . Recommendations are further presented at the end of the report. Information was gathered through extensive literature review . Further, a sem i - structure d questionnaire was used to collect data on various extension models employed by government and private sector in information and technology transfer . The report will build on the existing knowledge and inform extension service provider s’ in County government, private, inputs companies, international and national government on effective models of addressing food security and income generation among medium size farmers and other stakeholders across various value chains