Factors influencing effectiveness of decenntralised agricultural extension information and service delivery in Tanzania: A case study of Arumeru District
Loading...
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The study aimed at determining factors influencing the effectiveness of decentralised
agricultural extension information and service delivery in Tanzania. A cross sectional
research design was used to collect data from 390 respondents from Arumeru District
which were purposively selected. Data were collected using a semi-structured
questionnaire, focused group discussions, key informant interviews and observations
checklist. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used in the data analysis
whereby inferential statistics were determined. Quantitative data were analysed using
McNemar Chi-square test, Paired t-test; Wilcoxon signed ranked test, Pearson chi-square
test and Binary logistic regression. Qualitative data were analysed through content
analysis. The study found that there was no statistically significant influence of
administrative-delinking on farmers’ access to agricultural extension information and
services delivery at p≤0.05. Moreover, it was found that, the increase in the local
government autonomy had no significant influence on the delivery of quality agricultural
extension information and services to farmers. In addition, the study findings show that,
71% of the respondents were of the view that the shift in agricultural extension
information and service delivery decision making had no significant influence on farmers’
empowerment. Furthermore, it was found that there was statistically significant inequity in
the provision of agricultural extension information and service delivery among famers in
the study areas at p≤.0.05 despite the change in the government relations. Generally, the
decentralized agricultural extension information and service delivery did not significantly
contributed in improving quality, access equity and empowerment of smallholder farmers.
Its effectiveness is hindered by actor’s non-compliance to D by D principles, guidelines
and regulations as well as weak institution arrangement. It is recommended that, D by D
sector coordination Ministry, which is PO-RALG, should review the policy and enforce
the application of laid down rules, guidelines and procedures to make AEI&SD become D
by D compliant.
Description
PhD. Thesis 2018
Keywords
Decenntralised agricultural extension information, Agricultural extension information, Agricultural services delivery, Smallholder farmers, Arumeru District, Tanzania