Theses and Dissertations Collection

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://10.10.97.169:4000/handle/123456789/30

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Browsing Theses and Dissertations Collection by Subject "Agricultural extension"

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    Assessment of agricultural extension officers’ perceptions on their roles: a case study of agricultural extension officers’ in Simiyu region
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2020) Hassan, M.Z
    This study was conducted to assess agricultural extension officers’ (AEOs) perception on their roles as per government job description in five districts in Simiyu Region. Specifically, the study aimed at identifying roles performed by AEOs, determining AEOs awareness on their roles, determining AEOs self-assessment on their role competence, determining factors influencing AEOs perception on their roles and evaluating the opinions of AEOs in relation to their roles. The roles of AEOs were grouped into seven categories, which included: facilitation, organizational, intermediation, educational, technical, advisory and administrative. Using a cross-sectional research design, a sample of 100 AEOs at ward and village levels were randomly selected for the study and selfadministered questionnaire was used to collect data. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was employed as a tool for data analysis, where frequency and percentage were used to describe distribution of the study variables. Three Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) each comprising of eight members were conducted, which involved agricultural officers at the district levels including the District Agricultural Irrigation and Cooperative Officers (DAICOs). The study findings revealed that majority of the AEOs were aware about most of their roles: advisory; educational; organizational; facilitation; intermediation and technical, but least perceived awareness was the administrative role. AEOs reported to perform advisory and educational roles; furthermore, study findings showed that most of the AEOs had competence in performing advisory roles. However, they had low competence on educational, organizational, technical, facilitation, intermediation and administrative. Also, AEOs perceived advisory, organization, educational, technical, facilitation and intermediation roles as important. The multiple regression model showed that factors that statistically significantly influenced perception of AEOs about their roles were: mode of supervision (p≤ 0.048) at p≤ 0.05; owning transport (p≤ 0.004) at p≤ 0.05; type of transport (p≤ 0.010); promotion in the organization (p≤ 0.001); responsibility (p≤ 0.010), and appreciation (p≤ 0.001). For these study findings, recommendations include regular training of AEOs and provide support in terms of infrastructure for the AEOs such as transportation including fuel, allowances, office space and teaching aid for effective and efficiency role performance.
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    Assessment of efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of farmer-to-farmer extension approach at mogabiri farm extension centre (MFEC), Tarime District- Mara Region, Tanzania
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture., 2001) Sonoko, Julius Mgaya
    One of the several extension approaches used by NGOs in agricultural extension in Tanzania is farmer-to-farmer extension approach. This is the approach in which farmers are the primary extension agents and professionals only facilitate their work. Using project villages in Mogabiri Farm Extension Centre as study area, the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of farmer to-farmer-extension approach was studied. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a randomly and purposively selected sample size of 75 respondents. Three types of questionnaires were developed and administered to 60 farmers, 10 FAMOs and 5 WEOs working in the project villages. The results of the study revealed that in one month period, FAMOs visited 88.3% of respondents interviewed for 1 to 5 days. Similarly, in three months period, 80% of FAMOs attended over 75% of project farmers using various extension tools. This implies that farmer-to-farmer extension approach is efficient in terms of supervision frequency and coverage. However, FAMOs were incompetent in solving some of the farmers' problems particularly control of common animal and crop diseases, pregnancy diagnosis and dystocia. Results further revealed that project farmers who adopted recommended practices realised a substantial increase in milk, coffee and cereal yields. The observed increase in yields substantiate the effectiveness of farmer- to-farmer extension services. Implementation of improved practices, growth of farmers group members and elements of cost sharing in farmer-to-farmer extension approach at MFEC show that this approach will sustain after the termination of the project. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that FAMOs should be given appropriate and adequate training suitable in solving common problems encountered by farmers in the project areas. It is also recommended that short and long term solutions to the lack of reliable market for milk and coffee should be considered. Furthermore, it is recommended that in order to come up with sustainable extension approach, strategies should be designed to ensure that challenges like replacement of old extension facilities, shortage of working facilities and lack of incentives to FAMOs have permanent solutions.
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    Challenges facing agricultural extension in the current institutional context: the case of Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2016) Semwenda, Ayub Joshua
    The aim of the study was to understand contemporary challenges facing extension services at the District level. The study identified level of participation of agriculture stakeholders in the process of extension services delivery, accountability process in the delivery of extension services, resource capacity of the district to deliver services and farmer views on performance of extension service in Hai District. The researcher used qualitative and quantitative methods to study a decentralized public extension organization. Semi-structured interviews supported with document reviews and observations were used for the data collection. District extension system has identified challenges which include low level of participation of stakeholders in the design and implementation of policy, deficit and delays of extension funds, shortage of human resources, low sense of accountability and as a result farmers’ opinions have shown unsatisfactory performance of extension. District Government has to focus on the above challenges so as to improve the performance of extension. Increased involvement of private extension providers, diversification of funding sources and timely supply of funds to the district, deployment of Agricultural Officers and Livestock Officers to the village level, and strengthening accountability system will overcome the challenges.