SMALL-SCALE FARMERS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS DEMAND DRIVEN SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE DELIVERY. CASE STUDY OF SIAYA AND KILIFI COUNTIES IN KENYA

Abstract

The objective of present study was to assess the perception of small-scale farmer’s towards demand driven extension approach that was implemented by National Agricultural Extension Policy. The study used Ex-post facto survey design and multistage sampling procedure constituting proportionate and simple random sampling technique to select the study area and the sample. One set of questionnaire and one focus group discussion guide were used to collect data from three hundred households selected from the sampling frame obtained from the study area. Data were analysed using t-test and descriptive statistics with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings revealed that after the implementation of NAEP reforms, there was observation of both positive and negative change in perceptions among small-scale farmers towards agricultural extension services. The positive change was due to improved availability of extension services among farmers attributed to use of farmers groups as meeting points for delivery of agricultural extension services by Frontline Extension Service Providers. The observed negative change was caused by the small-scale farmers’ inability to adopt modern agricultural practices due to promotion of costly agricultural technologies and information packages by the Frontline Extension Service Providers, farmers’ inability to identify problems on their farms and demand for services in time; and the stringent conditions for groups to access funds from credit institutions. The t-test results revealed that the observed general positive change in farmers’ perceptions was significantly weak. The paper recommends that policy makers in the field of agricultural extension should place more emphasis on building farmers’ capacity so that they are better placed to identify problems on their farms at optimal time and seek for assistance; address the stringent condition that limit farmers access to credit facilities; strengthen farmer groups so that they are effective as arenas for dissemination of agricultural information and technologies and ensure effective small-scale farmers’ participation in identification and development of appropriate agricultural technologies aimed at improving agricultural productivity.