Perceptions of smallholders on the effectiveness of female and male agriculture and livestock extension field officers based on the akap sequence: a case study of Mvomero district
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Date
2007
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study was conducted in villages of Mvomcro District to investigate the perceptions of smallholders on the effectiveness of female and male Agricultural and increasing farmers' adoption and increasing farmers' productivity (AKAP) sequence of a crop (i.e. maize). The survey population comprised of farmers who grew crops and kept livestock. Data was collected in thirteen purposively selected villages. which were supervised by female agricultural and livestock extension field officers (FALEFOs) and thirteen randomly selected villages that were supervised by male agricultural and livestock extension field officers (MALEFOs). This was a cross- sectional study in which data was collected at one point in time from a selected sample of respondents. A simple random sample of 156 respondents was used and data was mainly collected using a questionnaire. The study results showed that respondents who agreed that MALEFOs gave them information based on AKAP sequence were higher compared to those supervised by FALEFOs. This implied that FALEFOs. The difference could be that FALEFOs performed other societal duties such as reproduction, production, and household chores in their homes. Also the findings showed that sex of the farmer had a significant effect on the way FALEFOs study found that female farmers who were supervised by FALEFOs had relatively higher levels of awareness, knowledge, adoption and productivity. Compared to MALEFOs were more effective in giving information to smallholders than Livestock Extension Field Officers (ALEFOs) in making farmers aware of and MALEFOs gave information to smallholders base on AKAP sequence. The technology/practices, increasing their knowledge on a tcchnqlogy/practiccs. those supervised by MALEFOs. However, the study found that MALEFOs gave information on the maize-related technologies/practices equally to both female and male respondents. This study recommends that countries' extension systems especially those in developing countries should encourage more FALEFOs since they have proven to be able to work with female farmers who mostly shoulder the agricultural responsibility of the country. Barriers, which limit FALEFOs to work in rural areas, should be removed. Also this study recommends that all lead Ministries should increase incentives to its ALEFOs.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Smallholders, Effectiveness, Agricultural, Livestock, Extension