Availability, transfer and utilization of selected grain storage protectant innovations in Tanzania: the case of Morogoro district
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Date
2009
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
In many parts of Tanzania locally available materials are widely used to protect grain stored produce against insect pests. However, with dissemination of modern grain storage protectant innovations, the traditional grain storage protectant knowledge has started to lose its ground. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the extent of availability, transfer and utilization of grain storage protectant innovations in Morogoro district, Morogoro region. Specific objectives were to: take an inventory of different kinds of grain storage protectant innovations available to the extension service; assess the extent of transfer of selected grain storage protectant innovations; and determine the extent of adoption/rejection of grain storage protectant innovations. Data were collected from 152 respondents including 132 farmers, four extension agents from each of the four villages in Morogoro district, and 16 key informants using questionnaires, researcher’s diary and checklist. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis technique. Quantitative data were processed and analyzed to produce frequencies, means and percentages. The results showed that grain storage protectant innovations are generally available in forms which vary in degree to which they can be helpful to the field extension agent. The extent of transfer and adoption of grain storage protectant innovations was found to vary from type of stored grain crop to crop. It was concluded that some of the constraints to transfer such innovations are of extension nature while others are clearly beyond the responsibilities of the extension agent. The study recommended that efforts be made to refine grain storage protectant innovations; every extension worker should attend on regular basis refresher courses and other professional programs and should be provided with transport facilities; and improvement of secondary education quality, access and equity for youth who are expected to be future farmers in the countiy side.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Grain storage, Protectant innovations, Grain transfer, Morogoro