The Role Of Extension Support In A Communal Farmers' Market System In Mhondoro-Mubaira, Zimbabwe

Muchesa, Evans; Nkosi, B.D.; Zwane, E. M.; Niekerk, J.A. van

doi:10.17159/2413-3221/2019/v47n2a504

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 5 publications

(4 reference statements)

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“…The majority of respondents (66.7%) are educated up to diploma level, 23.8% have a Bachelors, and less than 10% have progressed past the Bachelor's degree. These findings are similar to findings reported by Davis et al (2019) and Muchesa et al (2019). The demographics of respondents seem to indicate that the extension personnel are mature and capable of handling the rigours of tedious extension work.…”

Section: Key Informant Interviews Findings 331 a Summary Of Demograph...supporting

confidence: 86%

“…This resulted in AGRITEX concentrating services on the small-scale farming sector and recently on resettled farmers from the fast-track land reform programmes of the early 2000s. Since its inception, AGRITEX has experienced multiple systemic challenges which are complex and multifaceted, including poor funding, high turnover of experienced, competent and skilled staff, as well as mostly disseminating and recommending 'old' technologies developed 15 to 20 years ago (Mapiye et al, 2021;Moyo & Salawu, 2018;Muchesa et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of public agricultural extension on technology adoption by small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe

Masere¹,

Worth²

2021

S Afr. Jnl. Agric. Ext.

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This paper presents the findings of challenges facing Zimbabwe’s extension services and how these have affected the adoption of technologies they render to small-scale farmers. This study uses a critical review of relevant literature on Zimbabwe’s primary public extension agency (AGRITEX). Additionally, 21 key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted to corroborate data collected in secondary research on extension approaches currently in use, the key factors affecting technology adoption, and the technology adoption process of small-scale farmers. The study found AGRITEX’s major challenges to be poor funding, poor remuneration and incentives for extension personnel, lack of in-service training, lack of appropriate technology, as well as poor operational resources like transport to reach all farmers. Consequently, services offered to small-scale farmers were compromised, which led to poor adoption of recommended technologies. Furthermore, the study determined that key factors influencing technology adoption are related to the farmers’ circumstances, the operating environment, and the attributes of technology itself. As a lasting solution to poor technology adoption, an adaptive extension system that promotes building the capacity of extension workers and researchers, as well as embracing farmers and their indigenous knowledge, is proposed.

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Section: Key Informant Interviews Findings 331 a Summary Of Demograph...supporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of public agricultural extension on technology adoption by small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe

Masere¹,

Worth²

2021

S Afr. Jnl. Agric. Ext.

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“…If farmers obtain proper input, training, and extension support, production and food security in Zimbabwe's community regions can be considerably improved. Furthermore, communal farmers can effectively improve income from agriculture enterprises and upgrade communal farmers who originate from the most vulnerable sector of the rural population by establishing market links (Muchesa, Nkosi, Zwane, & van Niekerk, 2019).…”

Section: Factors Affecting Banana Commercialisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extension-market linkages on banana commercialisation among smallholder farmers in Meru Region, Kenya

Kirimi¹,

Onyari²,

Njeru³

et al. 2022

jae

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The study examined the effect of extension-market linkages on banana commercialisation among smallholder farmers in the Meru region, Kenya. The study sampled 400 farmers from a target population of 288,802 from the Meru region. The Tobit model was used to analyse the effect of extension-market linkages on banana commercialisation. The results revealed that sources of marketing information (Coef. -0.06) had a negative influence on farmers commercialising banana production. The result showed that the reliability of local extension service providers in enabling farmer’s access to market information (Coef. 0.04) had a positive influence on farmers commercialising banana production. The findings also showed that users of marketing information in the commercialisation banana business (Coef. 0.63) had a positive influence on farmers commercialising banana production. The study concludes that there was an association between extension marketing linkages and banana commercialization among smallholder farmers in Meru region, Kenya. Government should create and implement more policies that will favour and encourage farmers to commercialise bananas. This will help farmers increase their income.

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Factors influencing adoption, innovation of new technology and decision-making by small-scale resource-constrained farmers: The perspective of farmers in lower Gweru, Zimbabwe

Masere¹,

Worth²

2022

AJFAND

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A study was conducted in Lower Gweru Communal area of Zimbabwe to determine factors affecting small-scale resource-constrained farmers’ technology adoption and innovation processes. Specific objectives included determining circumstances when farmers consider learning about and adopting new technologies; documenting challenges faced by farmers in technology adoption; and determining the kind of support farmers require in adopting technologies or innovating. Multistage stratified random sampling was used to select a study sample of 256 farmers who participated in focus group discussions (FGDs). Additionally, semi-structured interviews (SSIs) with 200 farmers, selected from within the 256 FGD participants, were conducted to corroborate data collected in FGDs and participant observation. The study found that farmers were ready to learn and adopt new technologies when proposed technologies were (i) cheaper to acquire and use than their current technologies, (ii) easier and simpler to use, (iii) reduced labor requirements, and (iv) increased crop yields and/or animal productivity. Specifically, the study found high adoption rates of new technologies with traits similar to the farmers’ traditional practices such as conservation agriculture (with a 90% adoption rate) and thermal composts (with a 78% adoption rate). In terms of challenges, farmers were hampered mainly by lack of capital to acquire new technologies and lack of access to information, credit facilities and markets. In terms of support, in addition to capital and issues of access, farmers preferred to be actively involved in defining problems and developing solutions, technologies and innovations. Rather than being mere beneficiaries of new technologies developed by others, they want to be included in processes such as field-based participatory learning extension and innovation projects. In keeping with their self-perception as businessmen and women, perhaps most significantly, this study has reaffirmed that small-scale farmers, despite their educational limitations, their age, their constrained circumstances, and their risk profiles – are conscious and deliberate decision-makers. They are rational in their approach to adoption of technology, but are dominated by factors of cost, impact on income, and, of greatest influence, risk. Key words: extension, innovation, indigenous technologies, learning, perception, small-scale farmers, technology adoption

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The Role Of Extension Support In A Communal Farmers' Market System In Mhondoro-Mubaira, Zimbabwe

Cited by 3 publications

References 5 publications

Influence of public agricultural extension on technology adoption by small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe

Influence of public agricultural extension on technology adoption by small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe

Extension-market linkages on banana commercialisation among smallholder farmers in Meru Region, Kenya

Factors influencing adoption, innovation of new technology and decision-making by small-scale resource-constrained farmers: The perspective of farmers in lower Gweru, Zimbabwe

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