An assessment of the impact of agricultural extension education in Kabondo division, Homa-bay county: a case study of farmers united

Abstract

Agricultural extension education is considered as an important agent in the increment of agricultural food production. The study therefore sought to assess the impact of agricultural extension education programme by Farmers United in Kabondo division. In particular, the study investigated the effectiveness of teaching techniques, delivery systems and the level of training of the extension educators. For this reason, the perceptions of the field manager, extension educators and farmers were sought. The study adopted a case study design. The main instruments for data collection were; questionnaires, an interview schedule and an observation checklist. Sixteen extension educators and three hundred and fifty eight farmers participated in the study. Results indicated that all the sixteen extension educators were educated up to KCSE level but none was professionally trained as an agriculturalist. The results also indicated that demonstration teaching technique and training and visit delivery system were the most effective. The study also established that the programme left out some teaching techniques and delivery systems that the farmers themselves indicated that they would prefer yet these are techniques and systems that have been documented in the past as effective. The study therefore recommends that extension educators should use multiple teaching techniques and delivery systems in order to take care of interests, preferences and several learning styles of various farmers.