Abstract:
Agricultural production and yields of farms in Ashanti Region are
perceived as generally low because most farmers produce crops, using traditional
methods or low resource technologies. This situation can be overcome or improved
through an intensive and effective agricultural extensive delivery to step up
adoption rates of improved technologies by farmers.
The study was conducted at Atwima, Sekyere West, Ahafo-Ano North,
Asante Akim North and Adansi East Districts in the Ashanti Region to investigate
farmers' and extension staff perceptions of factors affecting the effectiveness of
agricultural extension delivery.
Using a descriptive-correlational design, the demographic characteristics of
farmers and AEAs, agro-enterprises of farmers, characteristics of technologies,
extension information delivery and logistical support factors were examined. The
overall effectiveness of agricultural extension delivery was also assessed as well as
identification of problems associated with agricultural extension delivery in the
Ashanti Region. Furthermore, relationships between the effectiveness of
agricultural extension delivery (the dependent variable) and the independent
variables of the study were determined.
The results revealed that the mean ages of farmers and AEAs were 55 .8
years and 38.9 years respectively. Many, 53.0% and 81.9% of the farmers and
AEAs who responded possessed Middle School Leaving Certificate and Certificate
in General Agriculture respectively. Majority (74.5%) of the farmers established
their farms on family and purchased lands. with their personal savings and
assistance from money lenders. Over 72.0% of the farmers depended on hired and
family labour for farming operations and received one or two visits in a month from the AEAs. Funding of extension programmes was fairly adequate. Farmers'
participation in the planning of extension programmes was high. The AEAs
frequently used group discussions and farm visits for education of farmers. Over
60.0% of the farmers perceived the recommended practices as compatible, easy-to-apply
with a high relative advantage. The level of competence, motivation of the
AEAs and overall effectiveness of agricultural extension delivery (EOAED) was
low in the districts.
The EOAED correlated significantly with the number of monthly visits to
farmers by AEAs, the overall relative advantage, compatibility of recommended
practices, farmers' satisfaction with the overall performance of AEAs, method and
result demonstrations. The EOAED also correlated significantly with the level of
competence, job satisfaction of AEAs, farm visits and contributions of farmers
during group discussions at the 0.05 alpha level.
The results of regression analysis revealed that the compatibility of recommended practices to farmers, farmers' satisfaction with the overall performance of AEAs, use of result demonstrations, job satisfaction of AEAs and contributions of farmers during group discussions were the best predictors of the effectiveness of agricultural extension delivery in the study area.
