Stakeholders'Knowledge Levels and Training in Soil Fertility Management Technologies in the Central Highlands of Kenya
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Soil nutrient depletion has been recognized as one of the major biophysical constraints \naffecting agricultural production in Sub Saharan Africa. Despite many researches that \nhave developed various soil fertility management options, few of the recommendations \nfrom these researches have been put into use by the targeted end users. This has been \nassociated with low levels of knowledge and understanding about these technologies \namong the stakeholders. The objective of the study was therefore to identify and \nunderstand the knowledge levels among various stakeholders as well as identify training \nrequirements of the farmers and extension agents for effective and enhanced uptake and \nutilization of these technologies in the central highlands of Kenya. The study was carried \nout in Meru South, Maara and Mbeere South districts. Five focus group discussions were \nconducted in every district to complement data collected through questionnaires. To \ndeterminethe socioeconomic factors influencing farmers' levels of knowledge, individual \nhousehold intervie~s were conducted from 300 randomly selected farmers. Structured \nquestionnaires were used to collect information from 55 extension agents from the study \narea.Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Chi-square and ANOV A were used \nto test the magnitude of the association between dependent and independent variables. \nLogit regression was used to predict the demographic factors influencing the farmers' \nlevelsof knowledge in manure, fertilizers and manure + fertilizers in the study area using \nstatisticalpackage for social sciences (SPSS) programme version 12.0. Results showed \nthat, 75% of the respondents in the study area had high levels of knowledge in use of \nanimalmanure. In the use of inorganic fertilizers, 73% of the respondents had high levels \nof knowledge. However, with regard to the use of manure + fertilizers, 43% of the \nrespondents had moderate levels of knowledge. The use of soil fertility technologies in \nthe study area increased with an increase in levels.of knowledge. Logit regression model \nidentified age of the household head (r=0.028), training in the use of animal- manure \n(r=0.509) and group membership (r=0.304) as possible predictor factors likely to \ninfluence the household levels ·Qf knowledge in use of animal manure at P<0.05. On \nknowledge in the use of fertilizers, ,group membership (r=0.364), age of the household \nhead (HHH) (r=-0.084) and total farm size (r=-0.138) were identified as possible \npredictor factors likely to influence the household levels of knowledge in inorganic \nfertilizers at P<0.05. With regard to the use of manure + fertilizers, Logit regression \nidentifiedgender of the HHH (r=-0.713), household size (r=0.100), training on manure + \nfertilizers (r=0.598), group membership (r=0.254) and total farm size (r=-0.122) as \npossible predictor factors likely to influence the household levels of knowledge in \nmanure + fertilizers at P<0.05. The priority training need for farmers in the study area \nwas soil testing (mean of 4.4) while for the extension agents was the use of animal \nmanure+ fertilizers (mean of 4.6). The most preferred training methods by the farmers \nwerefield days and on-farm demonstrations while the extension agents preferred on-farm \ndemonstrations. These results imply that there is need for regular farmers' training based \non their identified training needs. The finding provide a guide to the policy makers in \ndesigning capacity building modules and materials targeted at different stakeholders, \nthereby increasing stakeholders' levels of knowledge and adoption levels of the soil \nfertilitymanagement technologies. This is envisaged to lead to increased crop production \nandreduction of extreme poverty.
Author: Joseph Maina Macharia
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2182871288