USING AGRICULTURAL SHOWS TO CREATE DEMAND FOR DESMODIUM SEEDS IN “PUSH PULL” TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN WESTERN KENYA

Stephen W. Maina, John Gowland-Mwangi

Abstract


Despite  the effectiveness of the Push Pull technology in increasing maize yields by controlling Stem borer and striga weeds, farmers have yet to fully realize the benefits of this technology, which involves planting Napier grass around a maize field intercropped with Desmodium. Agricultural shows are often used to spread agricultural technologies to farmers but their effectiveness in stimulating and creating demand for Desmodium seeds, which are critical inpush pull technology adoption had not been established or was inadequate. This study provides the missing information using a cross-sectional research design to collect data from 800 farmers at Kisumu agricultural show in Western Kenya. A valid, closed-ended questionnaire whose 0.85α reliability coefficient was above the 0.70 acceptable threshold was used. Data were analysed using Chi-square at a confidence level set a priori at 0.05α. Only 4% of the farmers practiced push pull technology in their farms. Most farmers (97%) who visited the push pull technology demonstration plot wanted to adopt it in their farms and to buy Desmodium seeds in future and 54% wanted to purchase the seeds at Kisumu Agricultural Society of Kenya Show. The study concluded that agricultural shows created demand for Desmodium seeds and that farmers were willing to buy the seeds during the shows. It is recommended that seed dealers should ensure Desmodium seeds availability and access to farmers during the agricultural shows. 

 


Keywords


Eeffectiveness, push-pull, shows, smallholder, technology.

References


Brennan, M. (2004).The juster purchases probability scale: A bibliography. Marketing bulletin bibliography. November 25, 2007, fromhttp://marketingbulletin.massey.ac.nz/V15/MB_V15_B1_Brennan.pdf.

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology. (2007). Icipe external R & D review 2002-2007. Nairobi. Icipe Science Press.

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology. (2007). “Push Pull” technology for the control of stemborers and striga weeds. Retrieved August 5, 2007 from http://www.”Push Pull”.net/1aboutus1.htm

Jaetzold, R.& Schmidt, H. (1982). Farm management hand book Vol. I. Nairobi. Kenya. Ministry of Agriculture.

Jaetzold, R.& Schmidt, H. 1983. Farm management hand book Vol. 2. Nairobi. Kenya. Ministry of Agriculture.

Kendall, D. (2007). Sociology in our times. The essentials. USA. Thomson Wadsworth.

Kibaara, B. (2006). Working paper No 20/2006 rural financial services in Kenya: What is working and Why? Egerton University. Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development. Retrieved November 12, 2007, from http://www.fao/ag/ruralfinconference/docs/

Kothari, C. R. (2003). Research methodology: methods and techniques. New Delhi. India. Wishwa Prakashan.

Maina, S. W.& Mwangi, J. G. (2011). The effectiveness of agro-dealers in enhancing dissemination and adoption of the “push pull” technology among smallholder farmers in Western Kenya. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, ISSN 1822-7864: VOL 33, 2011.pp 118-132 Lithuania.

Odame, H., Musyoka, P.& Kere, J. (2008). How national public policies encourage or impede agribusiness innovation: cases of maize, tomato and dairy in Kenya. Draft report. Retrieved on November 1, 2008 fromhttp://www.info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/243548/KYAgribusinessReport.pdf.

Wider impact strategy. (2008). Impact strategy for bean in Africa. Part 1: Creating impact. Retrieved on November 1, 2008 fromhttp://www.ecabren.org/pdfs/impact_strategy.PDF.

Woodward, A. (2011). Integrated pest management in Sub-Saharan Africa. Washtenaw County Master Gardener Newsletter Vol. 19: 3 pp 2-3.Michigan State University.USA. Retrieved May 21, 2011, fromhttp://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/extension/MGNewsletters/.pdf


Full Text: PDF

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2014 Stephen W. Maina, John Gowland-Mwangi

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.