18 pages, 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
Boehm, William T. (author), Knutson, R.D. (author), Penn, J.B. (author), and Texas A&M University; Economic Perspectives, Inc.; The Kroger Co.
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
1983
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 57 Document Number: C01545
Notes:
Includes part of chapter 10 only; See also C01101, In: Knutson, R.D., Penn, J.B., and Boehm, W.T. Agricultural and food policy : the structure of agriculture. Englewood Cliffs, NJ : Prentice Hall, 1983. p. 254-258
Anik, Asif Reza (author), Breustedt, Gunnar (author), and Bauer, Siegfried (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2010-09-14
Published:
Bangladesh
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 177 Document Number: C30576
Notes:
Presented at Tropentag 2010, Conference on International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development, Zurich, Switzerland, September 14-16, 2010. 6 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 95 Document Number: C07349
Notes:
Evans, see C07346-C07352, In: Cernea, M.M., J.K. Coulter, and J.F.A. Russell (eds.) Research, extension, farmer : a two-way continuum for agricultural development. Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 1985. p. 34-41
