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 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 Evaluating farmers’ perception toward the effectiveness of agricultural extension services in Ghana and Zambia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Novas Somanje ◽  
Geetha Mohan ◽  
Osamu Saito
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Access To Credit

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.

Writing for Love and Money on Three Continents

2019 ◽  
pp. 33-48
Author(s):  
Kate Vieira
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Literacy Learning ◽  
The United States ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Transnational Families ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Methodological Choices ◽  
Political Borders

This chapter tells the story of the research. It first lays out the research question: How do transnational families’ experiences with migration-driven literacy learning shift across their lifespans in relation to changing political borders, economic circumstances, and technologies? It then describes the field sites in which the question was addressed: Latvia, Brazil, and the United States. Next, it outlines the reasoning behind the author’s methodological choices. Specifically, it elaborates on the author’s use of a comparative case study approach to develop the book’s central concept, “migration-driven literacy learning.” In doing so, the chapter describes how the project entailed both “reasearching across lives” and “researching across continents.” Finally, it offers a brief overview of the rest of the book.

Helping the Helpless: Contribution of Rural Extension Services to Smallholder Farmers’ Climate Change Adaptive Capacity and Adaptation in Rural Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Asare-Nuamah ◽  
Ebo Botchway ◽  
Justina A. Onumah
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Farming Communities ◽  
Multiple Strategies ◽  
Transfer Of Skills

While there is no doubt that extension services play an active role in promoting smallholder farmers’ adaptive capacity and adaptation to climate change, there is a dearth of information and research on how this institution champions climate change adaptation in rural farming communities in Ghana. This study employed a qualitative case study design and interviewed 15 extension officers and 26 smallholder farmers to understand how extension services enhance smallholder farmers’ climate change adaptive capacity and adaptation in the rural Adansi North District in Ghana. The findings indicate that extension services adopt multiple strategies to build the adaptive capacity of farmers to climate change. Through the transfer of skills and knowledge, technology and innovations, supply of inputs, technical advice and liaison role with existing local institutions, farmers are able to adapt to climate change. The study further revealed that extension services are hindered by geographical, sociocultural and economic challenges which affect their alignment and fitness to effectively assist smallholder farmers. The study recommends strengthening the capacity of the extension institution. Moreover, more experts must be trained to provide special, targeted and important services to smallholder farmers in respect of climate change sensitization and adaptation.

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 BPP UTILIZATION BY FARMERS TO SUPPORT INDONESIA AS BARNS THE WORLD

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (02) ◽  
pp. 121-126
Author(s):  
Iranita Haryono ◽  
Astrini Padapi ◽  
Ayu Wulandary
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Extension Programs ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
Extension Center

One of the efforts to achieve national food security is by strengthening assistance and counseling to farmers as the main actors. One of the extension links closest to the community and located at the sub-district level is the Peratanian Extension Center (BPP). The function and role of BPP is developed to achieve the desired expectations, namely food self-sufficiency and improvement of farmer welfare. Therefore, there is a need for a special study to be able to determine the level of responsiveness, responsibility and quality of agricultural extension services carried out by the BPP in Sidenreng Rappang Regency. This reserch aims to determine the performance of agricultural extension agents in Sidenreng Rappang Regency in terms of the level of accountability of agricultural extension activities based on indicators of responsiveness, responsibility and quality of extension services. The research was conducted from July to October in Sidenreng Rappang Regency. This research used a survey method. Determination of the sample of this study was carried out purposively on extension workers at the local BPP. Data collected descriptively by cross tabulation. Data analysis used scoring parameters, proportion, maximum, minimum and average values. The results show that the agricultural instructor's Performance Score is 294 which is interpreted into a moderate category score, which means that the ability of the BPP is sufficient to be able to recognize the needs of the assisted farmers, is sufficient to develop extension programs / activities that are in accordance with the wishes / aspirations of local farmers, and sufficient in providing service to farmers.

scholarly journals Pengorganisasian Kelompok Sadar Wisata Melalui Program Desa Wisata di Desa Pujon Kidul

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Nadiasari Nadiasari ◽  
Nurhadi Nurhadi
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Program Implementation ◽  
Group Formation ◽  
Program Planning ◽  
Data Display ◽  
Case Study Approach ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Data Checking

Abstract: The purpose of this study specifically is to describe the stages of organizing  of Tourism Awareness Groups through the Tourism Village Program in Pujon Kidul Malang Regency. This study uses qualitative research methods using a type of case study approach. This research began with data collection using observation techniques, interviews and documentation studies. Then the data obtained is recorded and given a code. Then, in analyzing the data using data reduction, display data and drawing conclusions. After analyzing the data then checking the validity of the data, checking the validity of the data using triangulation technique. The results of this study that there are several stages of organizing Tourism Awareness Groups include: (1) socialization, (2) group formation, (3) program planning, (4) program implementation and (5) evaluation.Abstrak: Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mendeskripsikan tahapan pengorganisasian  Kelompok Sadar Wisata melalui Program Desa Wisata di Pujon Kidul Kabupaten Malang. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan jenis penelitian studi kasus. Penelitian ini dimulai dengan pengumpulan data menggunakan teknik observasi, wawancara dan studi dokumentasi. Kemudian data yang diperoleh dicatat dan diberi kode. Kemudian, dianalisis dengan menggunakan teknik reduksi data, display, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Teknik pengecekan keabsahan data, yang digunakan adalah triangulasi. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa ada beberapa tahapan pengorganisasian Kelompok Sadar Wisata  meliputi: (1) sosialisasi, (2) pembentukan kelompok, (3) perencanaan program, (4) pelaksanaan program dan (5) evaluasi.

scholarly journals Competency Improvement Needs of Farmers in Afforestation for Preventing and Controlling Soil Erosion in Kogi State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 37-45
Author(s):  
Abu Mohammed ◽  
Ogbonnaya Elom ◽  
Ogechukwu Onah ◽  
Nnennaya Sinachi Monwuba
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Level Of Significance ◽  
The Impact

Farmers’ lack of awareness of agricultural activities that contribute to soil erosion and competencies needed to prevent or control the menace through afforestation contributed to unprecedented hardship, the farmers, stakeholders and individuals in Kogi state. The purpose of this study was to determine competency improvement needs farmers in pre-planting, planting and post-planting operations in afforestation and recommend for a way forward in containing the challenges. Three research question and three hypotheses guided the study. The study made use of survey research design; it was carried out in Kogi state. The population for the study was 1,244 made up of 834 registered crop farmers and 410 Agricultural Extension Agents. The sample of the study was 540. A random sampling technique (Balloting) was used to select 330 registered crop farmers out of 834 and 210 Agricultural Extension Agent out of 410 respectively. The instrument for data collection was a 49 items questionnaire titled: Competency Improvement Needs of farmers Questionnaire (CINFQ). The instrument was validated by three experts. Cronbach Alpha method was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument and a reliability coefficient of 0.82was obtained. Five hundred and forty (540) copies of the questionnaire were administered to the respondents for data collection, but 534 copies were retrieved and analyzed. Weighted mean and Improvement Needed Index (INI) were used to answer the research questions while t-test statistics was used and test hypotheses of no significant difference at the probability of 0.05 level of significance at 532 degree of freedom. It was found out that farmers needed improvement in all the competencies in pre-planting, planting and post-planting operations for enhancing their skills in afforestation practices on their farms and that of their neighbours as a means of reducing the impact of soil erosion in the area of the study. It was recommended that the identified competencies should be used by the extension agents to re-train farmers on the practice of afforestation along with crop production and soil conservation to reduce soil erosion menace in the State.

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