Swanson, Burton E. (author / Associate Professor, International Agricultural Education; and Associate Director, INTERPAKS, University of Illinois) and Associate Professor, International Agricultural Education; and Associate Director, INTERPAKS, University of Illinois
Format:
Handbook
Publication Date:
1984
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 73 Document Number: C03480
Notes:
John Behrens Collection, 2nd ed. Rome, Italy : Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations, 1984. 262 p.
USA: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D00342
Notes:
Kerry Byrnes Collection, Pages 139-144 in Proceedings of the Farming Systems Research/Extension Symposium hosted by the University of Arkansas and Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development, Fayetteville, Arkansas, October 9-12, 1988. Farming Systems Research Paper Series. Paper No. 17. 395 pages.
USA: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: KerryByrnes1 Document Number: D01309
Notes:
Kerry J. Byrnes Collection, pages 139-144 in Proceedings of Farming Systems Research/Extension Symposium hosted by the University of Arkansas and Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Farming Systems Research Paper Series, Paper No. 17. 395 pages.
10 pages, Low agricultural productivity remains one of the main factors influencing poverty and food insecurity among smallholder farmers in many developing countries. Among the key interventions assumed to influence agricultural productivity of smallholders is the provision of agricultural extension services to farmers. Access to agricultural extension however remains low in most developing countries thus slowing down agricultural productivity growth. This study therefore sought to determine the labor productivity effects of agricultural extension in northern Ghana using data from a cross-section of 300 smallholder farm households. The results of a binary probit model indicated that participation in agricultural extension increased with farming experience, farm size, access to irrigation and group membership but decreased with years of formal education and household size. Regression estimates of a labor productivity model revealed a positive and statistically significant relationship between agricultural extension and labor productivity. Also, labor productivity increased with farming experience, household income, access to irrigation, degree of specialization in production and the level of conventional inputs used per man-day of labor but decreased with participation in off-farm work. The authors recommend an increase in agricultural extension coverage to ensure that more farmers are reached with information on modern technologies to enhance their labor productivity. Furthermore, farmers need access to inputs such as seed and fertilizer to improve the productivity of labor.
Reprint provided as CD in John P. Brien, "Research contributions in agricultural extension and communication," a thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science, University of Queensland., Author makes some observations about agricultural extension and communication in the United States vis a vis Australia.
