scholarly journals Online Agricultural Extension Based on Internet Communication Principles

Author(s):  
Dennis Karugu Gichuki ◽  
Alice Nambiro Wechuli

The important role agricultural growth plays in mitigating poverty, economic growth stimulation as well as development in emerging economies like Kenya cannot be over stated. Available literature shows that agriculture is a key driver of economic growth and development strategies in attaining sustainable poverty reduction. ICT acts as an enabler when addressing food security with such factors as legal framework, policy, knowledge, markets, technology, and research among others. Information and skills gaps have kept most subsistence farming systems to much less productive and lucrative than they could be. Further, extension services are always often faced with the problem of underfunding, weak link between farmers and agricultural research agencies as well as lack acceptable contact to farmers. The problem is exacerbated by lack of coordination along the agricultural value chain from farm inputs to food processing, which increases the cost of production and lowers farmers’ revenue. The aim of this paper is to investigate the perception stakeholders in agricultural value chain have on online agricultural extension services as well as the challenges associated with the same.

1970 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-127
Author(s):  
J.S Orebiyi ◽  
A Henri-Ukoha

The paper examined how agricultural extension services can be mainstreamed in value chain in Nigeria. Literature materials concerning the concept of Value Chain, Agricultural extension and their roles were reviewed. Further effort was made to x-ray the possible ways where agricultural extension was used to facilitate the value chain. Findings on reviewed researches revealed that the involvement of agricultural extension in this crusade is paramount in achieving food security, poverty reduction, wealth and employment creation vis-a-viz Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Therefore, agricultural extension should be at the fore front of creating awareness on value chain to get farmers to participate as well as encourage them to be value chain actors. Government and stakeholders should facilitate the setting up of effective and functioning of value chain stakeholder committees ensuring the inclusion of agricultural extension services for effective facilitation.Keywords: Agricultural Extension Services, Mainstreaming, Value Chain


Author(s):  
Jock R. Anderson ◽  
Regina Birner ◽  
Latha Najarajan ◽  
Anwar Naseem ◽  
Carl E. Pray

Abstract Private agricultural research and development can foster the growth of agricultural productivity in the diverse farming systems of the developing world comparable to the public sector. We examine the extent to which technologies developed by private entities reach smallholder and resource-poor farmers, and the impact they have on poverty reduction. We critically review cases of successfully deployed improved agricultural technologies delivered by the private sector in both large and small developing countries for instructive lessons for policy makers around the world.


Author(s):  
Abel Kinyondo ◽  
Joseph Magashi

Poverty reduction has been a difficult milestone for Tanzania to achieve despite recording remarkable economic growth over the past decade. This is because the attained growth is not inclusive, in that sectors contributing to this growth employ fewer people. Given the fact that agriculture continues to employ the majority of people in Tanzania, efforts to improve livelihoods should necessarily be geared towards transforming the sector. It is in this context that using a sample of 3,000 farmers from 13 regions of Tanzania; this Tanzania, this study set out to examine challenges facing farmers and their respective solutions following the sustainable livelihood framework. Findings show that improving farmers’ livelihoods would entail concerted efforts by the government to avail to farmers, quality and affordable seeds, fertilizer, agricultural infrastructures, subsidies, extension services, markets, information alert, affordable loans, and areas for pastures. This implies that the government needs to allocate enough funds to the agricultural sector if farmers’ needs are to be met. We note, however, that government’s allocation to the sector has alarmingly generally been exhibiting a declining trend for the past four years. It is against this background that we strongly recommend that the government rethinks its position and prioritize the agricultural sector in its budget.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Novas Somanje ◽  
Geetha Mohan ◽  
Osamu Saito

Abstract Background In this study, we present the current situation and the role of agricultural extension services for farmers and indicates the potential solutions for the optimum effectiveness of these services. Thus, we investigate the vital determinants influencing the farmers’ attitudes toward using agricultural extension services in Ghana and Zambia. Methods In this study, we used a mixed-method research analysis of data from a household survey of 240 farmers and 8 key informant interviews in the Upper West Region of Ghana and the Southern Province of Zambia. Results The significant factors affecting the association of agricultural extension officers with farmers are regular meetings, demand for services and productivity, and the adoption rate of technology. Notably, approaches based on information communication technology indicators include owning cell phones; further, having radio access significantly affects agricultural practices. However, the role of gender, access to credit, and owning a television would influence food safety and nutrition. Conclusions Understanding the critical determinants will provide potential solutions to national agricultural research institutes, private research entities, and policymakers to scale-up the effectiveness of agricultural extension services, particularly in Ghana and Zambia.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazem S Kassem ◽  
Rasha M Shabana ◽  
Yomna A Ghoneim ◽  
Bader M Alotaibi

During the last 10 years, different initiatives have been implemented to provide mobile-based extension services for the agricultural sector in Egypt. The current study compared the quality of agricultural extension messages between public and private providers. A simple random sample of 120 farmers was selected representing 7% of the total farmers registered in the databases of Ministry of Agriculture (public services) and Shoura company (private services). Farmers assessed a sample of 10 messages delivered by both providers in terms of six indicators namely (1) access, (2) utilization, (3) timeliness, (4) trust, (5) satisfaction, and (6) sharing information with other farmers. The findings revealed the lack of access to messages by the farmers in the two services. However, more than 50% had utilized the majority of messages (in case of access). The study also showed significant differences between perception of farmers to quality attributes in public and private services (Access 6.77, 0.01; Utilization 8.44, 0.004; Timeliness 8.55, 0.002; Satisfaction 8.88, 0.001; information sharing 7.62, 0.009) except for trust (1.11, 0.4). Findings provide practical implications to support mobile-based extension services to enable sharing information and link farmers with other actors in the agricultural value chain.


Author(s):  
Mujiburrahmad Mujiburrahmad ◽  
Akhmad Baihaqi ◽  
Ira Manyamsari

ABSTRACTAgricultural activities still have a very strategic role in supporting national development, both for economic growth and equitable development. The strategic role of the agricultural sector for economic growth includes: food producers for the population of Indonesia, foreign exchange earners through exports, providers of industrial raw materials, increased employment and business opportunities, increased GDP, poverty alleviation and improvement of agricultural human resources through agricultural extension activities. The purpose of this study is to, (1) Knowing farmers' satisfaction with extension services in farming development in Pidie District, and (2) Knowing the relationship between the quality of agricultural extension services to the development of farming in Pidie District. This research was carried out in the Dayah Syarief Village, Mutiara District, Pidie District. The sample in this study were all farmers who numbered 90 people. The independent variables in this study are: (X1), Response (X2), Confidence (X3), Empathy (X4), Physical Evidence (X5) and Farmer Decision (Y) as the dependent variable. Data is collected using the survey method through a questionnaire filled out by Farmers. The data processing in this study will use the SPSS program (Statistical Package for the Social Science). The satisfaction of farmer with extension services in farming development in Busu Dayah Syarief Village, Mutiara District, Pidie District based on the results of research on Farmer Satisfaction variables obtained an average value of (4.18), so that respondents' assessment of the Farmer Satisfaction variable was influenced by variables of reliability, responsiveness , Belief, empathy and physical evidence. The relationship of the quality of agricultural extension services to the development of farming in Busu Dayah Syarief Village, Mutiara District, Pidie District, based on the results of the analysis concluded that of the five variables studied, it turns out the Confidence variable (X3) has the most dominant influence of 0.422% on Farmer Satisfaction. The relationship between the dependent and independent variables is each variable Reliability (X1), Responsiveness (X2), Confidence (X3), Empathy (X4), and Physical Evidence (X5) to Farmer Satisfaction with a correlation index of 0.978 or 97.8 % This means that the relationship is very strong. Then the index of determination of each variable Reliability (X1), Responsiveness (X2), Confidence (X3), Empathy (X4), and Physical Evidence (X5) is 0.957 or 95.7%, this means that the 5 variables have a significant effect towards farmer satisfaction in farming development, and by 4.3% which is influenced by other variables not examined in this study.Keywords: Extension, Farmers, Agriculture, Satisfaction.


Author(s):  
Boaz Stanslaus Kiberiti ◽  
Camilius Aloyce Sanga ◽  
Mussa Mussa ◽  
S. D. Tumbo ◽  
Malongo R.S. Mlozi ◽  
...  

This study sought to investigate on the access and use of mobile phones for improving the coverage of agricultural extension services among farmers in the pre-harvest stages of maize value chain in Kilosa district. The study examined the use of mobile phones as a means for improving the coverage of agricultural extension services. The study adapted a cross sectional study design and a multistage sampling technique. Data were mainly collected using structured questionnaires. The results revealed that majority of respondents used mobile phones and had a positive attitude on the contribution of mobile phone in their farming business. The study results also indicated that mobile phones offered an affordable solution to farmers' information needs and information requirements. The study concluded that the use of mobile phone to communicate agricultural information depends on information needs of farmers. The study recommended that farmers need to be encouraged and supported to access and use mobile phones in their farming business.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-14
Author(s):  
Mbemba Garenba

This article discusses the revitalization of agriculture through the knowledge of the extension agents to the community about the socioeconomic of agriculture. The interesting thing is that the potential of each region to develop agribusiness is very different. Therefore, to develop extension services that support the development of agribusiness, it is necessary to examine carefully the potential of each region. So that the diversity of extension materials must be made possible by innovation. Agricultural extension is expected to be the central point of agricultural development. However, in agricultural extension it must be remembered that extension is a form of intervention against farmers. Progressive and effective agricultural extension workers must be supported and collaborate closely with the Agricultural Research Institute including socio-economic research on agricultural extension which simultaneously conducts monitoring and evaluation of agricultural extension continuously. In disseminating information, the extension worker must carry out a reciprocal process, namely conveying information in the form of researchers' findings to farmers. Sustainable agricultural development really requires the support of strong agricultural technology and socio-economic research results. Without this, agricultural development will stagnate. Therefore, people's participation in planting knowledge needs to be increased.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Myrick ◽  
Willy Pradel ◽  
Canhui Li ◽  
Victor Suarez ◽  
Guy Hareau ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Limited analysis has been conducted of the role of agricultural research in promoting Chinese agricultural growth in less-favored areas. This paper analyzes how a particular potato variety generates benefits to producers and discusses how these benefits may have contributed to poverty reduction in Yunnan province. Cooperation 88 (C88) is a high-yielding, late blight-resistant variety that was developed through a partnership between the International Potato Center and Yunnan Normal University in Kunming, China. Methods Qualitative and quantitative methods are used to analyze determinants of adoption of C88, and to estimate impacts of adoption on producer well-being. A unique farm-household database is used to document the determinants of C88 adoption and disadoption. The quantitative assessment is supplemented with a qualitative analysis of the potato value chain to understand how seed availability and concern for processing attributes contributed to and eventually constrained diffusion. Market-level information was used in an economic surplus model to quantify the substantial economic impact of C88 over 20 years since its release. Results C88 spread rapidly in Yunnan following its release and was widely adopted by commercially oriented farmers. Disadoption began after 2010 with limited seed availability driving the shift toward newer varieties. Farmers, however, appreciate the ease of marketing, the 15% higher yields, and late-blight resistance associated with C88 suggesting that seed constraints are countervailing the economic benefits of the variety. Total impact on Yunnan potato farmers of the variety was estimated to be around $2.5 billion for the 1996–2015 period. Conclusions On per-person terms among C88 growing farm households, the economic advantage of the variety is likely to have contributed to poverty reduction. The aggregate impact of C88 diffusion occurred during a period of rapid poverty reduction in Yunnan and yield and disease-resistance benefits of C88 likely contributed to this reduction.


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