Publication: Relationship between Level of Participation of Researchers, Extension Agents and Farmers in On-Farm Research Trials and Adoption of Technologies Case Study: Maize and Beans Producers, Kenya
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2014
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Institute of Development Studies
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Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the relationship between level of participation of researchers, extension agents and farmers in on-farm research trial activities and level of adoption of technologies developed through that process. The study was based on technologies used to improve the productivity of maize and beans in southwest Kenya. The study used an ex-post facto research design with a survey methodology. It was designed to use three sets of questionnaires directly administered to farmers, extension agents and researchers to collect data from the researchers, farmers and government extension agents. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 104 respondents. The study established that; there was a significant relationship between occupation of respondents and their level of participation; there was a significant difference between the level of involvement of farmers, extension agents and researchers with the mean participation of the extension agents being relatively high compared to the researchers and farmers in on-farm related activities. However, there was low level of interaction between the researchers, extension agents and farmers; and there was a significant relationship between agro-ecological zones (AEZs) and level of participation of farmers with farmers at higher AEZs having higher participation levels compared to the farmers at the lower zones. The study finally concluded that, there was a strong positive relationship between the level of participation and level of adoption. The study therefore recommends that extension agents and researchers should consider improving their level of participation in joint activities.
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: researchers, extension agents, On-farm research trials, technology adoption