Effectiveness of Agricultural Training Centers’ Curriculum in Promoting Adoption of Agricultural Technologies: Evidence from Small-scale Potato Farmers in Nyandarua County, Kenya

International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development

卷:4

Justus M. Ombati¹  John G. Mwangi¹  Ronald O. Nyamwamu² 

[1] Department of Agricultural Education & Extension, Egerton University, PO Box 536-20115 Egerton, Kenya.;

[2] Extension Division, Ministry of Agriculture, P.O. Box 30028, Nairobi, Kenya.;

关键词: Adoption;    Agricultural Training Centre;    Curriculum;    Effectiveness;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Agricultural Training Centres (ATCs) promote crop andlivestock development by providing extension informationto farmers and serving as models of improved crop andlivestock husbandry practices. Although potato farmers inNyandarua County were trained on potato production technologies,their average yield was ≤ 16 tonnes per hectarecompared to the national potential of 30 tonnes. This studytherefore sought to determine the effectiveness of ATCs’ curriculumin promoting farmers’ adoption of selected potatoproduction technologies in Nyandarua County in Kenya. Asurvey design was used. Primary data was collected from136 farmers trained at ATCs on potato production using interviewschedules. The respondents were sampled through afive-stage technique. The data was analysed using T-test andANOVA, then summarized into percentages. Study resultsshowed that adoption of recommended potato productiontechnologies produced high yields compared to traditionaltechnologies. It was therefore concluded that ATCs’ curriculumwas effective in promoting farmers’ adoption of potato seedselection, planting, crop protection and harvesting technologies.It is recommended that ATCs’ curriculum prioritise demonstrationsthat show the influence of clean seed, fertilizer application,timely harvesting and spacing on potato yields. Further,campaigns should be held to educate farmers on the importanceof potato dehaulming to promote its adoption. In addition,farmer-based seed production programs should be started inthe County aimed at ensuring ready availability of seed.

【 授权许可】

Unknown