The research advances the existing extension education knowledge by illustrating the relationship between culture and adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA). Using a sample of 127, the study adopted a descriptive correlational design to gather data that addressed the hypotheses. The sample was selected randomly through systematic sampling procedures covering all parts of the sub-county. A semi-structured questionnaire was utilized to gather data. Independent samples t-test and multiple regression analysis were applied in data analysis. The results indicated that farmers who received climate-smart information compared to farmers not receiving the information demonstrated significantly higher CSA practices adoption levels. A combination of cultural elements significantly predicted the adoption of climate-smart practices. The moderate effective adoption rates witnessed may have been contributed by limited access to extension services and cultural barriers. Among the cultural elements inability of extension agents to communicate in the local language was found to be the main inhibitor to effective dissemination and subsequent adoption. Hence, extension agents conversant with local language should be recruited to break the communication barrier to improve the diffusion of CSA practices. The county extension agents should be encouraged to use a mix of mass media extension education methods so as to expand the coverage.

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This study adds to the knowledge base of Entrepreneurial Education (EE) in selected technical training institutes in Kenya. Using qualitative research inquiry, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a question guidebook and follow-up questioning. Data were collected from students, instructors, and administrators selected through purposive sampling. Open and axial coding was used to categorize the transcribed interview responses. Peer review was used to ensure credibility and confirmability. The results reveals that the learning institutions prepared students as entrepreneurs through coursework, mandatory field internships, internal projects, participation in agricultural and business fairs, and providing startup capital for cooperative shops. EE delivery faces numerous constraints including inadequate start-up capital, inadequate access to land, and output and input market resulting from poor infrastructure, competition, lack of marketing skills, and exam-oriented curricula. Dairy, horticulture, poultry, and apiculture enterprises were identified as the most promising and viable enterprises for graduates of middlelevel tertiary institutions. In conclusion, EE was being offered in these institutions as certificate courses or integrated as a topic in their existing curricula. In order to improve upon the delivery of the programs, the institutions needed to upgrade learning facilities, incorporating ICT in the curricula, enhance practical learning, conduct rigorous follow-up evaluations of graduates, and establish business incubators for providing start-up capital to graduates.

The study adds to extension education knowledge by revealing cultural barriers inhibiting the uptake of apiculture enterprise among women and youths in Maara Sub-County, Kenya. Data were gathered from twenty-three smallholder farmers selected through purposive sampling based on gender and age from Maara Sub-county, Kenya. Data were collected through the use of structured interview schedule. The study revealed that women and youths’ participation in apicultural activities hindered by cultural restrictions which included taboos, inheritance, traditions, and attitudes. The taboos inhibiting female farmers from engaging in apicultural production were; forbidding women from climbing trees, sitting beehives in apiaries, and honey harvesting. Traditions such as the belief that apiculture is meant for elderly men discouraged youths and women entrant to the industry. Only interested and older sons from the farm families could inherit apiaries in the community. A majority of female and young farmers were blinded by the negative attitude they had towards the enterprise hence they could not participate. Even though apprenticeship was the main channel of equipping farmers with apicultural knowledge and skills, personal experiences and social gathering played a vital role. Few farmers also acquired knowledge through formal schooling. Cultural restrictions need to be eased to attract women and young farmers in apiculture production. Extension education would also enhance the adoption of the farm enterprise through dissemination of modern beekeeping technologies.

This study aimed at establishing the relationship between group membership and application of best horticultural farming practices (BHFP) among the group and non-group farmers in Meru County, Kenya. A descriptive design involving a cross-sectional survey was applied to address the research objectives. The target population consisted of 4950 smallholders from horticultural group and non-group farmers. The study sample was 224 farmers chosen through stratified random sampling. Data were gathered using a researcher-developed questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in data analysis. The analysis was accomplished using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study revealed a variance in mean BHFP application scores between groups' farmers (M =76.49, SD = 4.78) and non-groups' farmers (M = 67.71, SD = 8.57). There was a positive substantial correlation between group membership and application of BHFP, which was statistically significant (rpb = .50, N = 224, p < .01). Discriminant function analysis revealed that Wilks’ lambda was significant, λ = .47, χ2 (16) = 162.63, p = <.05, R2=.53 implying that the group means differed significantly. Farmers in groups applied BHFP application more than the non-group farmers hence a clear association between group membership and BHFP application. The study recommends that farmer groups should be promoted to facilitate dissemination and application of BHFP. Keywords: best horticultural farming practices; farmer group; smallholder farmers