Major problems which hinder the adoption of agricultural innovations by farmers as perceived by state extension directors and county agent association presidents
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Date
1980
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study was conducted with the prime objective of
determining major problems constraining adoption of new agricultural
practices by farmers as perceived by state directors of CES and
presidents of CEAA.
The method used was the Delphi technique which
involved eliciting expert opinions from the study population through
administration of two instruments to participants.
Opinions reported were the consensus of the total population.
Data were processed through the West Virginia University Computer
Center and means and standard deviations were determined for each
statement.
Group means and standard deviations were also determined
for positions and regions.
There was no need for inferential statistics
as perceptions of the total population were studied.
Economic Factors
1.
Participants viewed problems connected with interest rates
which affect long-term investment, cost-price squeeze which relates
to inflation, costs of land and equipment, energy costs, and pressure
on land use in highly populated areas, as outstanding economic factors.
Aspects related to credit and debt, aside from interest rates and those dealing with economic uncertainty, were considered serious as
well by respondents.
2.
Strong agreement was noted between directors and
presidents concerning economic factors hampering new farming
practices.
A notable difference, however, was found in the
statement "farmers lack understanding of credit use," which was
more seriously viewed by directors than presidents.
3.
Regional variations, which may be attributed to geo-
physical position, climatic conditions and enterprise variations,
were observed.
Credit and debt related factors were considered
relatively more serious by southern and western respondents than
by north central and northeastern participants.
Cost-price squeeze
factors related to land costs and value in highly populated areas
were rated highest by northeastern and western participants and lowest
by those in the north central region.
Urban pressure by expanding
metropolitan areas in these regions could be postulated as the
contributory factor.
Infrastructure related problems were rated
somewhat higher by southern respondents than by north central
respondents.
Technical and Managerial Factors
1.
Inadequacy of farm records was singled out by participants
as the outstanding problem.
Availability of skilled labor and manage-
ment skills of farmers were also perceived as major bottlenecks toward
adoption of new agricultural practices.
Transportation of farm inputs
and produce were as well viewed as acute problems by respondents 2.
Participants also considered those problems connected
with farmers being locked into enterprises due to loans or
equipment, difficulties in fitting new technologies into existing
operations, farm size, and influence of weather in farming, as major
concerns affecting adoption of innovations.
3.
Directors and presidents agreed strongly in all statements
except three.
These statements included management skills, trans
portation facilities and progressive farmers preceding research
recommendations.
4.
rated.
Regional variations were observed in all statements
Part-time farming was considered more serious by western
region participants and a lesser concern by participants in the north
central region.
Other statements which showed considerable differences
included those related to labor, transport, farm size, weather, and
farming as a hobby.
Factors related to farm size and farming as a
hobby were rated highest by western region participants and lowest by
north central respondents.
Transportation of farm inputs and produce
was viewed as a more serious problem by north central respondents than
by northeastern and western region respondents.
Social Factors
1.
Farmers’ behavior and attitudes toward change were
considered by respondents to be the most outstanding social problems
constraining adoption of new practices.The conservative farmer
was perceived to be the foremost problem.Tradition and lack of
confidence in making innovations succeed were other factors considered
major problems. 2.
Directors and presidents strongly agreed on social
factors constraining new agricultural practices except with problems
related to age and education of fanners.
Presidents considered age
of farmers relatively more serious than did directors while the
problem related to educational level of farms was weighted higher by
directors than presidents.
3.
Regional variations, which may be assumed to emanate
from cultural heritage, tradition and environmental exposure, were
observed.
Three out of the nine statements showed considerable
variations among regions.
These statements included those related
to lack of profit oriented goals which was rated highest by northeast
region respondents and lowest by western participants; and age of
farmers which was viewed as least important by north central respondents.
Educational level of farmers was rated considerably higher by southern
region participants than by those from north central region.
Informational Factors
1.
Lack of extension and research personnel, time and
support to show farmers how new practices work was considered by
participants the most serious problem connected with informational
factors.
A segmented rather than a systems approach, insufficient
research, and lack of personalized assistance were other informational
problems noted by participants.
2.
Directors and presidents strongly agreed that lack of
research and extension staff, time and support was the informational
problem of major concern. 3.
Regional differences were noted in several informational
factors constraining new agricultural practices.
Inadequate result
demonstration and field days was rated more serious by northeast and
southern participants than by those in the north central and western
regions.
Considerable differences were also noted among regions on
statements related to lack of faith in research and extension systems,
psychological approach by change agents, and communication of innovations
by extension personnel.
Political Factors
1.
Political factors which influence the adoption of new
agricultural practices by farmers were considered serious impediments
by participants.
Government interference and regulation was singled
out as the most serious problem.
Condition of the national economy
was also considered a major constraining factor.
2.
Directors and presidents strongly agreed on the seriousness
of political factors hampering adoption of new agricultural practices.
However, presidents rated the statements related to government
interference, world situation, zoning, and land taxation higher than
did directors.
3.
Regional differences concerning influence of political
factors affecting adoption of new farming practices were noted.
Increasing land taxation was rated serious by all except north central
participants.
Zoning was considered an acute problem by participants
in northeastern and western regions, whereas north central and southern
respondents were Iqss concerned.
Description
Masters' Theses
Keywords
Agricultural innovations, Farmers, State extension directors, County agent association presidents