scholarly journals Effective Extension Sustainability in the face of COVID-19 Pandemic in Smallholder Agricultural Markets

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 865-878
Author(s):  
Enock Siankwilimba
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Delivery Systems ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Support Functions ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
The Face ◽  
Sustainability Theory

Abstract: The effects of COVID-19 have tested and crushed the earlier achievement in sustaining the agricultural and extension delivery system globally. COVID-19 has pressed a reset panel on the extension services more especially among the smallholder farmers who are already underprivileged. Specifically, this review paper aims to analyse studies on the sustainability of agricultural extension delivery systems in face of the COVID-19 crisis. The various theories and factors advanced in discussing sustainable agricultural extension delivery systems, and how they contribute to improved production and productivity to end poverty have been addressed. The COVID-19 mitigation strategies and their effect on agricultural extension sustainability have been laid bare. No single sustainability theory can explain how COVID-19 has disrupted the extension delivery systems. The service providers and farmers have had their effects differently, and all players have followed mitigation to the best of their knowledge. Extension delivery has undergone numerous modifications over the years to better meet the demands of farmers and the changing nature of the markets in which they operate. In order to provide effective service delivery and outcomes to farmers, collective involvement of various stakeholders is necessary since no single player can achieve effective extension sustainability alone due to the diverse nature of the challenges, which are mainly influenced by factors such as geographical location, poverty, and social status among others. Therefore, appropriate approaches should be selected based on the needs of farmers and the market dynamics of a specific economic orientation in a given area. We conclude that effective and sustainable extension delivery systems require many combined theories, support functions, formal and informal rules, and regulations involving all extension-based stakeholders. Keywords: Sustainability, COVID-19, smallholder farmers, agricultural market systems, extension services

scholarly journals Mobile phone-assisted agricultural extension services: User competency and usage frequency in eastern Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (105) ◽  
pp. 18886-18911
Author(s):  
C Nyaplue-Daywhea ◽  
◽  
JK Ahiakpa ◽  
OA Mensah ◽  
F Annor-Frempong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Mobile Phone Use ◽  
Usage Frequency

Adoption studies have mainly focused on econometric and quantitative modelling that usually assume smallholder farmers competently adopt agricultural technologies. This study provides novel insights on user competency and frequency of usage of mobile telephony for agricultural extension services among smallholder farmers and agricultural extension agents (AEAs) and key factors that impede the adoption process. The study examined users’ competencies and mobile phone usage frequency for access and delivery of agricultural extension services in Eastern Ghana. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 95 AEAs and 330 smallholder farmers in five districts of the Eastern region of Ghana and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and regression analyses were performed to analyse the data. Results showed substantial differences between AEAs and smallholder farmers’ competency in the use of mobile phones for agricultural extension services. Socio-demographic characteristics of smallholder farmers and AEAs correlated with usage frequency of mobile phones for access to extension services and delivery. Educational level, amount of weekly expenditure of money on mobile phone use, mobile phone network quality, income level, and age of both AEAs and smallholder farmers had positive and significant correlations with frequency of usage of mobile phones. User competency differentially impacts the frequency of mobile phone use in agricultural extension services between AEAs and smallholders. High call tariffs and access to recharge cards are major challenges in using mobile phones for agricultural extension in the study areas. The study shows components of the adoption theory of compatibility, and complexity where an innovation fits within the socio-cultural framework and perceived difficulty of use. Thus, the frequent use of voice calls is indicative of early stages of the diffusion process and may diversify into other applications in the future. Farmer-based organisations should be resourced to support training of farmers to use mobile phones to improve access to agricultural information dissemination. Integrating voice-based agricultural information services (IVRs) into the current SMS-based agricultural extension services in Ghana could potentially boost extension service delivery to smallholder farmers in the Eastern region and across the country. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture may partner with key stakeholders and mobile service providers to offer hands-on capacity building to smallholder farmers and AEAs in video calling/conferencing, multimedia service, and social media to enhance their competencies for improved agricultural extension services.

scholarly journals Smallholder farmers willingness to pay for privatized agricultural extension services in Tigray National Regional State, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 29-38
Author(s):  
Kidane Tesfay Gebreegziabher ◽  
Gidey Kidu Mezgebo
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Extension Service ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Agricultural Extension Service

This study assessed farmers’ willingness to pay for privatization of agricultural extension services and examined factors that determine willingness to pay for those services. Multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting 240 households. Data were collected using household survey, focus group discussion and key informant interview tools. Data were analyzed using percentage and logit model. Results showed that 58% of the respondents were willing to pay for the privatization of agricultural extension services. Farm size, age, family size, credit access, frequency of extension contact and income were significantly influenced farmers’ willingness to pay for privatization of agricultural extension services. Privatization of agricultural extension services encourages graduates of agricultural sciences to launch consultancy firms and this engenders professional entrepreneurship. Number of visits, socioeconomic, and institutional factors must be given emphasis for privatizing the agricultural extension service in Ethiopia. Moreover, government should launch privatization parallel to the public agricultural extension services Keywords: Agricultural extension service, willingness, privatization. Ethiopia

scholarly journals Assessment of Agricultural Advisory Messages from Farmer-to-Farmer in Making a Case for Scaling Up Production: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nana Afranaa Kwapong ◽  
Daniel Ankrah ◽  
Dominic Boateng-Gyambiby ◽  
Joseph Asenso-Agyemang ◽  
Lydia Oteng Fening
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Group Formation ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Study Approach

Inadequate access to agricultural extension services often results in poor farm practices, affecting yields and subsequently the income and wellbeing of smallholder farmers. Given the high demand for agricultural information and the limited capacity of extension services, a farmer-to-farmer extension approach has been explored by many underserved farmers. In this study, we use a qualitative case study approach explore how cassava farmers who had limited access to agricultural advisory services from public extension agents managed to up-scale their farming business. Our research question was: what lessons can be learned from the lived experience of these farmers to address current challenges of cassava farming? The results of our study revealed diversity in advisory messages from farmer to farmer and agricultural extension agents. Farmers’ messages focused on encouraging farmers’ commitment and motivation towards farming business, availability of needed financial resources for the entire production season, willingness to reinvest profits, and access to farmland for future expansion. In contrast, the traditional messages from agricultural extension agents focused on encouraging group formation to address marketing challenges, diversification of farm operations, and good agricultural practices. These results show the need for pluralistic extension approaches to ensure farmers get access to necessary information.

scholarly journals THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES MODE OF OPERATION IN HORTICULTURAL SCHEMES IN WEST COAST REGION IN KOMBO CENTRAL AND NORTH OF THE GAMBIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-57
Author(s):  
Lamin K M Fatty ◽  
Prof. Idu Ogbe Ode ◽  
Igbana Ajir
Keyword(s):  
West Coast ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Mode Of Operation ◽  
Coast Region

The study assesses agricultural extension services mode of operation in horticultural farms for smallholder farmers in Kombo Central and North, West Coast Region of The Gambia. The instruments designed to gather the primary data include; structured interview and focus group discussions (FGD) supported by secondary data using official documents and key informant interview for verification. The target population consisted of 398 respondents, 10 extension officers and three extension agent heads. The data was quantitatively analyzed using percentages, frequency distribution tables, t-test, chi-squared test correlation and factorial analysis. Qualitative data from the in-depth interviews were also analyzed and presented appropriately. It was found that the variables on the influence of extension services (availability of AES, extension visit, farm size, marital status, experience in farming, education, farm group, transportation, post-harvest technology training and distance to market) are significantly associated with the horticultural smallholder farmers post-harvest losses. It means that there is a significant relationship between extension availability and post-harvest handling at p < 0.05 level of significance. The research comes out with the following recommendations; the need for continued research, development and investment programmes in extension, effective and efficient communication to the farmers, availability of horticultural production, government policy aimed at training and developing farmer capacity in appropriate monitoring systems of extension services, road improvement in the study areas and creating better improvement conditions for the extension agents. The study proves the need to improve the living conditions of services for extension services and availability of extension officers at a regular base with appropriate knowledge and skills. Keywords: Agricultural Extension Services, mode of Operation in horticultural Schemes, West Coast Region, Kombo Central, North, The Gambia.

Are farmers in Ethiopia ready to embrace cost-sharing agricultural extension approach?

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 1119-1136
Author(s):  
Muluken Gezahegn Wordofa
Keyword(s):  
Cost Sharing ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Discrete Choice Experiments ◽  
Extension Service ◽  
Eastern Ethiopia ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Cost

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate perceptions of smallholder farmers toward the cost-sharing agricultural extension service provision. Design/methodology/approach The study used data from a cross-sectional survey, key informants interviews and focused group discussions conducted on 384 farm households from six Kebeles of Eastern Ethiopia. Findings The authors find that flexibility and credibility, ability of development agents to address neglected aspects in agricultural production, and reaching diversified groups of farmers as the perceived advantages of the cost-sharing approach. Furthermore, improved knowledge and attitude, enhanced research–extension–farmer linkages, and improved food security and poverty reduction are found to be the three most important impact areas associated with the approach. On the contrary, poor economic status of farmers, high cost of administration and absence of a clear guideline/legislation are found to be the most important constraints. The authors find that increasing farmers’ awareness about the cost-sharing approach and preparing a clear definition of the form, modalities and principles of the cost-sharing extension approach can be a part of the practical solutions to overcome the challenges. Research limitations/implications The current research is limited to the investigation of farmers’ perceptions toward paid extension services. The willingness to pay for extension services – using discrete choice experiments – is dealt with in another paper. Originality/value The first of its kind in the country, the paper tried to assess farmers’ readiness to try a new extension service delivery. The findings have important implications for policy makers and local level implementers of extension programs.

scholarly journals HORTICULTURAL FARMERS’ ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION INFORMATION ON POST-HARVEST TECHNOLOGY IN KOMBO CENTRAL AND NORTH, WEST COAST REGION, THE GAMBIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 26-39
Author(s):  
Lamin K M Fatty ◽  
Prof. Idu Ogbe Ode ◽  
Bejamin Gowon Ahule
Keyword(s):  
West Coast ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
North West ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Coast Region

The study examines agricultural extension services and post-harvest technology of horticultural crop produce for smallholder farmers in Kombo Central and North, West Coast Region of The Gambia. The instruments designed to gather the primary data include; structured interview and focus group discussions (FGD) supported by secondary data using official documents and key informant interview for verification. The target population consisted of 398 respondents, 10 extension officers and three extension agent heads. The data was quantitatively analyzed using percentages and frequency distribution tables. The results show that the current horticultural post-harvest loss management and access to relevant information from the extension agents is inadequate, no/uneasy access to available market, poor road conditions, inadequate available facilities for post-harvest produce, and low support services from the authorities. The research comes out with the following recommendations; the need for continued research, effective and efficient communication to the farmers, availability of horticultural production and post-harvest handling information, and special extension agents training on post-harvest practices. Provision of storage and processing facilities in the vicinity of the farms as crucial, road improvement in the study areas and creating better improvement conditions for the extension agents. Keywords: Agriculture Extension Services, Post-Harvest Technology, Smallholder Farmer, West Coast Region, The Gambia, Horticulture Crop Produce, Kombo Central and North

scholarly journals PERANCANGAN SISTEM INFORMASI PENYULUHAN BUDIDAYA HASIL PERTANIAN BERBASIS SMS GATEWAY DI KABUPATEN MUSI RAWAS

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (02) ◽  
pp. 118-124
Author(s):  
Elmayati Elmayati
Keyword(s):  
Communication Technology ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Commodity Prices ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Agricultural Crops ◽  
Agricultural Commodity ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Remote Areas

ABSTRAK Sebagai daerah agraris, sektor pertanian menjadi mata pencaharian terpenting bagi sebagian besar masyarakat di kabupaten Musi Rawas. Untuk itu Pengembangan potensi lahan dan pemberdayaan pelaku usaha tani menjadi bidang garapan yang perlu mendapat perhatian khusus. Dalam upaya tersebut, penyuluhan pertanian menjadi faktor penting, penyuluhan pertanian bukan lagi hanya sebagai faktor pelancar pembangunan akan tetapi sabagai pemicu sekaligus pemacu pembangunan pertanian (Dimas dan Djuaini, 2014) khususnya di Kabupaten Musi Rawas. Kendala terbesar dalam pelaksanaan kegiatan penyuluhan  di kabupaten Musi Rawas yaitu faktor luas wilayah serta letak geografis Kabupaten Musi Rawas dimana kabupaten Musi Rawas memiliki luas daerah lebih kurang 2.256,44 km2 dengan kontur geografis perbukitan sehingga pelaksanaan pelayanan penyuluhan pertanian tidak dapat dilakukan dengan cepat, tepat serta menjangkau wilayah pelosok. SMS Gateway merupakan perpaduan antara teknologi komunikasi dan teknologi informasi. SMS Gateway dapat melakukan pengiriman dan penerimaan data melalui SMS yang dikirim oleh ponsel ke komputer atau dari komputer ke ponsel (Latief Noor Astuwaito, 2012). Dengan memanfaatkan teknologi tersebut maka para petani di kabupaten Musi Rawas akan lebih mudah mendapatkan informasi tentang tata cara budidaya tanaman pertanian, harga komoditi pertanian serta permasalahan tentang pertanian. Selain itu juga pelaksanaan kegiatan penyuluhan pertanian akan lebih mudah dan mampu menjangkau wilayah pelosok.   Kata kunci : penyuluh, smsgateway, web   ABSTRACT  As an agricultural area, the agricultural sector is the most important livelihood for most people in the district of Musi Rawas. For this reason, the development of land potential and empowerment of farmer actors is a field of work that needs special attention. In this effort, agricultural counseling is an important factor, agricultural extension is no longer just a factor of accelerating development but as a trigger as well as boosting agricultural development (Dimas and Djuaini, 2014) especially in the District of Musi Rawas. The biggest obstacle in the implementation of extension activities in the four lawang district is the factor of area and geographical location of the Musi Rawas District where Musi Rawas district has an area of ​​approximately 2,256.44 km2 with geographical contours of the hills so that the implementation of agricultural extension services cannot be carried out quickly, precisely and reach remote areas. SMS Gateway is a combination of communication technology and information technology. SMS Gateway can send and receive data via SMS sent by cellphone to computer or from computer to cellphone (Latief Noor Astuwaito, 2012). By utilizing this technology, the farmers in the Four Lawang district will find it easier to obtain information about the procedures for cultivating agricultural crops, agricultural commodity prices and problems regarding agriculture. In addition, the implementation of agricultural extension activities will be easier and able to reach remote areas.   Keywords : agent, smsgateway, web

scholarly journals The role of agricultural extension services in socio-economic development of east Africa: A critical review

2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prosper Venance Mgalama
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
East Africa ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Public And Private Sector ◽  
Agriculture Extension

Diverse agricultural extension services and approaches have been pursued in east Africa with varying degrees of success. The paper explores the extent to which agriculture extension services provided by both public and private sector have been translated into meaningful social and economic development of farmers. Several dynamics in the pursuit of extension programmes include shortage of extension staff and poor working facilities, leading to inadequate capacity of unbalanced technologies and low participation of private sector were noticed. The paper outlines a number of recommendations including but not limited to strongly involve stakeholders in technology development and transfer. This will assist farmers identify their felt needs rather than the needs being determined by extension service providers.

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