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2. Administrative co-ordination in African rural development
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Leach, James (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 1982-12
- Published:
- United Kingdom: Elsevier
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 159 Document Number: D07747
- Journal Title:
- Agricultural Administration
- Journal Title Details:
- 11 (4): 295-302
3. Can you ensure that ICT for development apps are downloaded and used? A case study of the plantwise data collection app for plant health in Kenya
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Ochilo, Willis N. (author), Ruffhead, Holly (author), Rumsey, Abigail (author), Chege, Florence (author), Lusweti, Charles (author), Oronje, Mary Lucy (author), and Otieno, Washington (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2019
- Published:
- Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 77 Document Number: D10807
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural & Food Information
- Journal Title Details:
- 20(3):237-253
- Notes:
- 18 pages., via online journal., Mobile apps are increasingly being used to answer development challenges around the world. The development opportunities that apps offer is wide-reaching but uptake of the technology varies. This article examines the ease of use and factors impacting user acceptance and behavior when interacting with an app for agricultural extension in Kenya. Results show factors including gender and age play a role in the adoption of technology by agricultural extension agents. The findings have useful lessons for apps’ development in the agricultural sector and suggest that including intended users of an app in the design process significantly increases usability.
4. Client focused extension approach for disseminating soil fertility management in central Kenya
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Muchai, Serah W.K. (author), Muna, Monicah W.M. (author), Mugwe, Jane N. (author), Mugendi, Daniel N. (author), and Mairura, Franklin S. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2014
- Published:
- ESci Journals Publishing
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 122 Document Number: D11154
- Journal Title:
- International Journal of Agricultural Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 2(2): 129-136
- Notes:
- 8 pages., via online journal., Land degradation and soil nutrient depletion have become serious threats to agricultural productivity in sub- Saharan Africa. To improve agriculture production, research has led to recommendation of a range of integrated Soil fertility Management (ISFM) options, of proven effectiveness, for soil fertility improvement. Although many factors contribute to the low adoption of ISFM by farmers, communication gaps between extension agents and farmers lie at the heart of the problem. Hence, the study sought to investigate factors considered by agricultural extension agents in selection of communication channels to disseminate soil fertility information in the central highlands of Kenya. Structured questionnaires were used to elicit information from 105 extension agents. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. In choosing the communication method to be used in dissemination of soil fertility management (SFM) practices, target group was scored as the most relevant factor followed by type of SFM, time available then number of staff sequentially. Education was perceived to highly influence the selection of workshop (M= 3.4) while age was perceived to highly influence the selection of video showing (M= 2.8) as extension methods in dissemination of SFM. The implication of the study is that diverse communication channels should be utilized to get to farmers of different socio economic characteristics.
5. Community participation in agro-forestry development and extension: experience of the Kenya wood fuel and agro-forestry programme(Kwap), Busia District, Kenya
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Noordin, Qureish (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 1996
- Published:
- Taylor and Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 138 Document Number: D11493
- Journal Title:
- East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal
- Journal Title Details:
- 62(1-2): 261-270,
- Notes:
- 11 pages., via online journal, This paper discusses the role of the community in agroforestry technology development and the extension approaches that have been used to spread sustainable agroforestry practices. It begins by stressing the importance of active community participation in the development of appropriate and sustainable agroforestry interventions for small holder farmers in the tropics. This is seen as essential because farmers understand their complex biophysical, socio-cultural and economic environment better than anyone else. It is therefore imperative that the community be involved in the whole process of technology development right frøm problem identification to technology transfer. Similarly, problem identification and prioritisation by, consensus of the community is seenas crucial, as is the role of indigenous knowledge in designing technologies that are cost effective, relevant and easily adoptable. Equally important is that interventions be tried out with a few farmers before involving the whole community and that farmers develop a monitoring system within their means that is effective in assessing the performance of these technologies. The paper concludes that a community-based extension system should be institutionalised in order to ensure sustainability in the transfer of the technologies. The system should be able to lead to the building of the capacity of the local farming community to continue utilising and transferring these technologies to solve their problems and ultimately creating sustainable fanning systems.
6. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) attract youth into profitable agriculture in Kenya
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Irungu, K. R. G. (author), Mbugua, D. (author), and Muia, J. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2015
- Published:
- Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 34 Document Number: D10675
- Journal Title:
- East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal
- Journal Title Details:
- 81(1): 24-33
- Notes:
- 11 pages., via online journal., Youth cherish technology, efficiency and innovations and accommodate entrepreneurial risks. The objectives of this study were to show the beneficial use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in agriculture among the youth in Kenya, assessed ICT application and commonly used tools, experienced challenges, impacts and suggested future ICT use. Beneficial ICT applications were exemplified by ‘Mkulima Young Champions’ who led digital initiatives, drew youth into farming, helped them learn among themselves, and traded and overcame agricultural challenges. Using radio, short message services (SMS) and social media, they discussed agricultural topics and shared successes. Mkulima Young's Facebook was vibrant. The youth posted photographs and videos, asked questions, discussed issues and interacted. Most of the youth obtained information from the internet, hence the internet was the best platform to market and promote agriculture to the youth. They used internet and social media to obtain production technologies, market information and for information sharing. Most commonly used tools were MS Office and spreadsheets for record keeping. Voice messages and SMS assisted timely accessing of market prices, reaching clients, sharing production information and money transactions. The ICT content should be relevant to targeted youth, valuable, localized and dependable. The ICT-savvy youth operated intensive, efficient and profitable farms, producing diverse and branded products for niche markets. The youth transformed the community use and access to ICTs and influenced community economic status. Smart phone technology will revolutionize access to and use of ICTs. YouTube, Twitter and WhatsApp should be expanded and widely popularized among the youth.
7. The efficacy of knowledge sharing strategies used at Egerton University as perceived by livestock value chain actors
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Ong'ondo, M. A (author), Nyaanga, J. G (author), and Bebe, B. O. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2015
- Published:
- Pakistan: eSci Journals Publishing
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 124 Document Number: D11224
- Journal Title:
- International Journal of Agricultural Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 3(2): 155-160
- Notes:
- 6 pages., ISSN: 2311-6110, via online journal., Agricultural universities invest substantial resources in postgraduate research that generate knowledge products. These are aimed at providing solutions to practical constraints impeding increased productivity in the agricultural sector, which plays a vital role in Kenya's economic development. Using a case study of Egerton University, this study aimed to determine the strategies most frequently used to share the generated knowledge products, and to find out their preferences of the knowledge sharing strategies in use. The actors' perception of the relevance and accessibility of the knowledge products generated at the University was also examined. The study was conducted through desktop study which reviewed the Masters and Doctorate Theses that targeted livestock value chain actors generated between January 2005 and December 2011. A survey was conducted using structured questionnaires to collect data from a sample size of 198 actors. The findings indicated that the knowledge products were 25 to 29 times more likely (P<0.001) to be disseminated through the library than any other sharing strategy examined. The sampled actors in livestock value chain perceived media briefs to be the most accessible with a mean of 4.26. The Masters Theses were perceived as more relevant to their needs with a mean of 4.07. The findings indicate that the livestock value chain actors were not fully utilizing the knowledge sharing strategies used to reach them. The study concluded that the defined primary beneficiaries of knowledge products from the university were not effectively reached.
8. The influence of different message packaging, on the performance of field workers: a case study of finlay flowers Kericho
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Teno, Beatrice (author), Onyango, Chris A. (author), and Kibett, Joash (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016
- Published:
- ESci Journals Publishing
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 123 Document Number: D11157
- Journal Title:
- International Journal of Agricultural Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 4(1)
- Notes:
- 8 pages., via online journal., This study seeks to explore the influence of forms of communication on the performance of field workers in Finlay Flowers Kericho, focusing on the Communication process and quality management in flower production. The study was conducted at Finlay Flowers one of the leading producer of cut flowers in Kenya. A total of 145 respondents were selected from a population of 1,175 interacting groups comprising of middle level managers and field workers. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires and an interview schedule and collected data was analysed using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Findings revealed that all forms of communications had influence on performance of field staff with demonstrations appearing to be more influential in this regard. This is attributed to the fact that demonstration is a consultative event where the management directly involves the employees and advice on the specifications or product requirements. In conclusion, main driver of performance as revealed by the findings of the study meaningful communication process; senior management communication style, supportive work environment and line management style. Based on the findings, the study recommends that in order to improve performance, demonstration as a form of communication should be encouraged, as workers need detailed information on how to conduct their duties especially when handling the produce, also the use of interactive methods as forms of passing messages will help in improving production efficiency.