The role of agricultural extension is vital to the diffusion of new technologies, but extension is currently not very effective in many African nations, with conventional extension approaches having minimal impact. In Kenya, there have been gaps on the availability of studies and documentation of the specific extension approaches and their influence on the acquisition of knowledge and skills for improved farm productivity despite the various extension efforts and resources put in place in man...
Abstract Banana is one of the most important fruits in Kenya as it contributes to about 32% of the foreign income of the total exported fruits. Despite this contribution, banana farming is facing numerous challenges such as lack of clean planting material, pest and diseases and poor agronomic and crop husbandry practices leading to low productivity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate technology adoption along banana value chain and its effects on productivity among smallholder farmers...
Abstract: Not all individuals or communities can participate in development projects at the ideal intensity, levels, usage rates and time commitments to development. This study evaluates the implementation of an agricultural technology program, specifically the availability and access of the technologies to and by the rural communities, capacity-building efforts by the change agents, and challenges faced by both the implementer and the small-holder farmers. This qualitative research employed...
Abstract: The need to enhance food production and the efforts by stakeholders to introduce newfarming innovations in addition to enhancement of agricultural extension servicesin farming areas of Kenya is largely under reported. This study was undertaken at YattaDivision of Kitui County to assess new maize farming technologies, diffusion andadoption by farmers in Yatta Division. Specific objectives were to identify maize farmingtechnologies that exist in Yatta, to identify factors determining...
Abstract: This study was conducted in the Liben woreda of Oromia regional state, southeastern Ethiopia in May at the end of main rainy season (March-May, 2020). The objective of this study was to determine vegetation structure and carbon stock potential of Guji zone rangelands under the three traditional rangeland management practices i.e., near the village, main grazing land and communal enclosure. A combination of stratification and systematic random sampling was applied to collect the rel...
Abstract: The study set out to assess determinants of information seeking behavior of vegetable farmers and to identify the source of information for vegetable farmers in Haramaya Woreda, East Harargh zone of Oromia Regional State. The study employed multi-stage sampling procedures to select four Kebele administrations and 150 sample respondents. Primary data for this study were collected using interview schedule. Simple descriptive statistical analyses and an econometric model (Ordered Logi...
Abstract: Climate change causes a serious problem in Ethiopia in general and more so in the study area where people’s livelihoods depend on subsistence rain-fed farming. Effective adaptation to current changes in climatic condition is the key to securing food production and livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the existing adaptation strategies and explore the determinants of the adaptation strategies choice of smallholder farmers in response ...
Abstract: Climate variability and change are adversely affecting agricultural activities in many developing countries including Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to analyze climate variability impact on maize yield and Farmers’ adaptation options in Hawassa Zuria district, Sidama Region, Ethiopia. Historical climate data of rainfall and temperature for the period of 1989 to 2019 were obtained from the National Meteorological Agency (NMA) of Ethiopia. After data quality control, onset...
Abstract: Ethiopia is one of the countries where agricultural production is highly vulnerable to climate change and variability. An understanding of the impacts of climate variability on agricultural production at a local level is essential to devise context-specific adaptations. In view of this, this study was carried out to assess the impact of climate variability on sorghum yield in Chiro district. To achieve this objective, historical time series climate data and sorghum yield data from ...
Abstract: Climate change and variability are emerging issues across the global, especially in countries where rain-fed agriculture is a means of livelihood. Hence, the current study aimed to characterize the climate variability of the study area and its implication for potato production. Potato yield data for a period of 12 years was obtained from Agricultural Office of Kombolcha District for kiremt season. Historical rainfall and temperature data of Kombolcha station were obtained from Nati...
Abstract: In countries like Ethiopia where vulnerability to climate variability is high and adaptive capacity is low, studying climate variability impacts and adaptation measures at local scale is critical. In view of this,this study was conducted to assess climate variability and its effects on sorghum yield and explore farmers’ adaptation strategies in Gursum district. To achieve this objective, historical climate data from 1986-2015 and time series data on sorghum yield from 1998-2015 w...
Abstract: Information access among smallholder farmers is very important as it keeps farmers aware of what is happening in their work area and make decisions. The importance of information for wheat producers in Ethiopia cannot be undermined since it helps them make the right decisions about their farming production. The main objectives of this study was to assess the smallholder wheat producers’ access to agricultural information and to examine factors that contribute to accessing informa...
Abstract: The study was carried out in four purposively selected FTCs in Gambella region. This research attempted to study the roles of ICTs in management of agricultural knowledge. It then examined the status and use of ICTs in Agricultural Knowledge Management, evaluated the provision of Agricultural Information and knowledge and, identified constraints of ICT use for agricultural knowledge management in selected FTCs. The subject (unit) of analysis is in this research were various stakeho...
Abstract: The purpose of this research is to reveal the agricultural information need and seeking behavior of the Abergelle woreda smallholder farmers. In this information era, smallholder farmers’ information needs change with their geographical location, economic, demographic, psychological and institutional factors. Till now to the level of the author’s knowledge no study has been done on the topic in the study area yet, therefore, conducting a research on identifying information need...
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L. ) is widely cultivated by the farmers of North Indian plains after harvesting the menthol mint or maize crop. Large area under cultivation of this annual crop by marginal farmers in North India is pre-dominantly occupied by the variety "CIM-Saumya," developed by CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. In the present study, an effort has been made for the first time to introduce CIM-Saumya cultivation as a short-duration crop in three nor...