TITLE:
Assessing the Extension Staff Farm Visits Frequency Effect on Greenhouse Technology Performance in Small Scale Farms in Gusii Highlands, Kenya
AUTHORS:
Philip Alinyo Omoro, Anakalo Shitandi, Nemwel N. Aming’a, Evans Basweti
KEYWORDS:
Assessment, Greenhouse, Performance, Technology, Extension, Production
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.2 No.2,
February
15,
2015
ABSTRACT:
Purpose: The study aimed at assessing the extension staff farm visits frequency effect on greenhouse technology performance in small scale farms in Gusii Highlands, Kenya. Research Methodology: The study employed a survey research design. The target population for the study was 1000 farmers practising greenhouse technology in Gusii Highlands (Kisii and Nyamira Counties). Purposive and multi-stage sampling techniques were used to sample 276 respondents from the target population. Primary data were collected using questionnaires and key informant interviews. Data was analysed using Microsoft excel and SPSS software. Regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between extension staff farm visit frequency and greenhouse technology performance. Findings: The study found out that extension staff farm visit frequency had a significant effect on technology performance (t-value of 7.066 and significance level 0.000) that is, there was a positive relationship between extension staff visit frequency and greenhouse technology performance, with an increase of extension staff farm visit by one resulted in an increased performance in tomato production by 305.97 kg. Practical Implications: There is need for extension support in terms of staff capacity building, mobility and employment to improve farmer coverage staff: farmer. Other identified constraints facing smallholder farmers investing in the technology like soil sampling and analysis, irrigation and water management, need to be addressed if green house technology performance is to be improved. Originality: The article presents actual data collected from famers in Gusii Highlands. Assessing the extension staff farm visits frequency effect on greenhouse technology performance in small scale farms in the Gusii Highlands.