Abstract:
Communication is key to agricultural development and major
stakeholders have been called upon to rethink about the way it should be
modelled. The study analysed communication methods for agricultural
extension delivery in Houet Province of Burkina Faso. A descriptive-correlational
survey research design was used for the study. A census of 64
Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) and 99 farmers were involved in the
study. Questionnaire and scheduled interview were used to collect data. SPSS
version 15 and Excel were used to generate descriptive statistics and one way
Analysis of Variances (ANOVA) was used to test the significance of differences
in the variables and among groups at a 5% alpha level.
The study revealed that agricultural extension agents were highly
competent in the use of farm and home visit methods of extension. Field trip
was the most important source of information for AEAs while fellow famers
were the most consulted information source for farmers. The study showed
significant differences between the extent of use of selected communication
methods and age and educational level of AEAs while the level of education of
farmers differed significantly with the sources of information: ages, farming
experience, extent of use of communication methods, and land tenancy
influenced the perceived effectiveness of selected communication methods.
The study recommended among others the need for government to
introduce extension-teaching programmes in all the professional training
schools and centres of the ministries of rural development to equip AEAs with
fundamentals in the use of selected extension communication methods.
