The Effect of Shared Meaning between Extension Officers and Farmers on the Adoption of Irish Potato Farming in Kenya

Kinya Kathure Kigatiira
  • Jomo kenyatta university of agriculture and technology Kenya
  • Keywords:
  • Piloting Test, Irish potato farming , Agricultural Extension Service , Quality Protein Maize×
  • Abstract:
  • The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of shared meaning between extension officers and farmers on the adoption of Irish potato farming innovations in Kibirichia Ward, Meru County. It’s objectives were: to determine the effect of channels of communication used between extension officers and farmers on the adoption of Irish potato farming innovations in Meru County; to describe the nature of messages conveyed between the extension officers and farmers on the adoption of Irish potato farming innovations in Meru County; to examine the effect of the context of communication between extension officers and farmers on the adoption of Irish potato farming innovations in Meru County and to determine the effect of noise on shared meaning between extension officers and farmers on the adoption of Irish potato farming innovations in Meru County. The study was guided by the diffusion of innovation and symbolic interaction theories of communication. In this study, qualitative research design was used and qualitative data was collected with the aid of focus group discussions and in-depth interviews amongst Irish potato farmers who were area residents from four sub-locations (Kimbo, Gathuine, Kiamiogo, Mburugiti) and all the extension officers involved in the production of Irish potato crop. A sample size of 39 respondents was drawn. Using qualitative methods in data analysis, focus group and interview data was transcribed, coded and categorized into relevant themes and sub-themes and possible and plausible explanations of the findings drawn. Findings of the study revealed that channels of communication and nature of messages result in shared meaning and high adoption of Irish potato farming in Meru County. However, whereas physical, socio-psychological and temporal contexts of communication positively influenced shared meaning and adoption of Irish potato farming, cultural context did not have an effect on adoption but only influenced shared meaning. Further, noise deterred shared meaning between extension officers and farmers and led to low adoption of Irish potato farming in Meru County. The study recommended that in order to attain increased adoption of Irish potato farming, the government should employ public relations officers and development communication experts, who can develop communication campaigns that will enable effective dissemination of extension information to farmers. Further research should be conducted to determine the role of social media on adoption of Irish potato farming innovations in Meru County. Secondly, since this study focused on Meru County, further studies should be upscaled in other counties in Kenya that cultivate Irish potatoes. The findings are beneficial to farmers, agronomical companies, extension officers, researchers and government policy makers. They boost planning and implementing of focused agricultural programs geared at increasing agricultural production in line with the Kenya government agenda 2018 and the Sustainable Development Goals, 2017.
  1. Abong, G. O., Okoth, M. W., Imungi, J. K., & Kabira, J. N. (2010). Evaluation of selected Kenyan potato cultivars for processing into potato crisps. Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America, 1(5), 886–893. https://doi.org/10.5251/abjna.2010.1.5.886.893
  2. Adebayo, K. (1997). Communication in agriculture. Abeokuta: Greenlinks International.
  3. Adejoh, S. O., Edoka, M. H., & Shaibu, U. M. (2016). Assessing the availability, accessibility and use of media channels for sourcing agricultural information by urban and rural farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology 14(2), 1-8.
  4. Agbamu, J. U. (2005). Problems and prospects of agricultural extension service in developing countries. In S. F. Afolayan (Ed.), Agricultural Extension in Nigeria (pp159 – 169). Ilorin AESON.
  5. Agbamu, J. U. (2006). Essentials of agricultural communication in Nigeria. Lagos: Malthouse Press Ltd.
  6. Age, A. I., Obinne, C. P. O., & Demenongu, T. S. (2012). Communication for sustainable rural and agricultural development in Benue State, Nigeria. Sustainable Agriculture Research, 1(1), 118–129. https://doi.org/10.5539/sar.v1n1p118
  7. Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems (AKIS). (2000). Decentralizing agricultural extension: Lessons and good practice. Wachington, D. C.: The World Bank.Retrieved from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTARD/825826-1111063678817/20431788/Decentralization.pdf
  8. Agwu, A. E., Ekwueme, J. N., & Anyanwu, A. C. (2008). Adoption of improved agricultural technologies disseminated via radio farmer programme by farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria. African Journal of Biotechnology, 7(9), 1277-1286. Retrieved from https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajb/article/viewFile/58662/46990
  9. Aker, J. C. (2011). Dial “A” for agriculture: A review of information and communication technologies for agricultural extension in developing countries. Agricultural Economics, 42(6), 631–647. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-0862.2011.00545.x
  10. Akinbile, L. A., & Otitolaye, O. O. (2008). Assessment of extension agents’ knowledge in the use of communication channels for agricultural information dissemination in Ogun State, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural and Food Information, 9(4), 341–353. https://doi.org/10.1080/10496500802451426
  11. Ali, J. (2011). Adoption of mass media information for decision-making among vegetable growers in Uttar Pradesh. Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 66(2), 241–254.Retrieved from http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/204748/2/07-JABIR%20ALI.pdf
  12. Ali, J., Naseem, B., & Ali, A. (2016). Farmer’s perception regarding extension activities conducted by agricultural extension field staff in Barkhan District of Balochistan before and after decentralization. International Journal of Advanced Research in Biological Sciences, 3(4), 176-182.
  13. Amin, M. E. (2005). Social science research: Conception, methodology and analysis. Kampala: Makerere University Press.
  14. Anaeto, F. C., Asiabaka, C. C., Nnadi, F. N., Ajaero, J. O., Aja, O. O., Ugwoke, F. O., … Onweagba, A. E. (2012). The role of extension officers and extension services in the development of agriculture in Nigeria. Wudpecker Journal of Agricultural Research, 1(6), 180–185. Retrieved from http://pdoaj.com/pdf-files/agr/194/180-185 Vol 1 issue 6 July 2012.pdf
  15. Ang, H. B. (2010). Occupational stress among New Zealand farmers-A review. Labour, Employment and Work in New Zealand. Retrieved from http://ojs.victoria.ac.nz/LEW/article/view/1708
  16. Antholt, C. H. (1994). Getting ready for the twenty-first century: Technical change and institutional mordernization in Agriculture. Washington, D. C.: The World Bank.
  17. Ayodele, A. E. (2012). A critical analysis of Diffusion of Innovation Theory. Retrieved from https://odinakadotnet.wordpress.com/tag/mass-communication-theory/
  18. Bachhav, N. B. (2012). Information needs of the rural farmers: A study from Maharashtra, India: A survey. Library Philosophy and Practice, 866. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/866 [Accessed July 20, 2013].
  19. Bagi, F. S., & Bagi, S. K. (1989). A model of farm-level demand for extension information. North Central Journal of Agricultural Economics, 11(2), 297–307.
  20. Baig, M. B., Shayaa Al-Shay, M., & Straquadine, G. S. (2012). Agricultural extension in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Difficult present and demanding future. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 22(1), 239–246. Retrieved from http://www.thejaps.org.pk/docs/v-22-1/12.pdf
  21. Bankay, V. (2012). Examining the communication gaps that exist between farmers and extension officers in the agricultural sector of Changuanas. The University of the West Indies. Retrieved from https://prezi.com/1-01cbilpcpl/examining-the-communication-gaps-that-exist-between-farmers-and-extension-officers-in-the-agricultural-sector/
  22. Bardsly, J. (1982). Farmer’s assessment of information and its source. In Nwuzor, B. (2000). Nature and role of agricultural extension in economic development. Enugu, Econus Publishing Company, p. 48.
  23. Becker, H. (1991). Theory: The necessary evil. In The Annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Chicago.
  24. Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., Redmond, M. V., Geerinck, T. M., & Wiseman, L. S. (2015). Interpersonal communication: Relating to others. (M. Sartor & D. LeGallais, Eds.) (5th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education. Retrieved from http://www.pearsoncanada.ca/media/highered-showcase/multi-product-showcase/beebe-preface.pdf
  25. Bello, M., & Obinne, C. (2012). Problems and prospects of agricultural information sources utilization by small scale farmers: A case from Nasarawa State of Nigeria. Journal of Communication, 3(2).
  26. Bello, M., & Obinne, C. P., & Bako, S. A. (2014). Challenges of utilizing agricultural information sources by small scale farmers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 4(26).
  27. Bembridge, T. J. (1991). The practice of agricultural extension: A training manual. Development Bank of Southern Africa: Halfway House.
  28. Benokraitis, N. V. (2016). Introduction to Sociology. (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
  29. Birner, R., & Anderson, J. R. (2007). How to make agricultural extension demand-driven? The Case of India’s agricultural extension policy. IFPRI Discussion Paper 00729, (November).
  30. Birr, T. (2012). Communication: The process of creating shared meaning. Retrieved from https://thefoxyfiveexplainsitall.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/communicationthe-process-of-creating-shared-meaning/
  31. Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic Interactionism: Perspective and Method. Berkeley: University of California Press.
  32. Burgoon, J. K., Guerrero, L. K., & Floyd, K. (2010). Nonverbal communication. New York: Pearson Education Inc.
  33. Campbell, D. A., & Barker, C. (1998). Selecting appropriate content and methods in programme delivery. In B. E. Swanson, R. P. Bentz, & A. J. Sofranko (Eds.), Improving agricultural extension. A reference manual (2nd ed.). Rome.
  34. Chauhan, J. (2007). Agriculture extension education, communication in agriculture.Raja Balwant Singh College, India, p. 14-16.
  35. Cheboi, S., & Mberia, H. (2014). Efficacy of interpersonal communication channels in the diffusion and adoption of zero grazing technology. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 4(9), 352–368. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v4-i9/1164
  36. Chi, T., & Yamada, R. (2002). Factors affecting farmers’ adoption of technologies in farming system: A case study in Omon district, Can Tho province, Mekong Delta. Omonrice, 10, 94–100. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f62f/b7147568c61610d4ad6b6de48f14a73f6f83.pdf
  37. Center for International Agricultural Developmen Cooperation (CINADCO). (2015). The Integration between Research, Extension and Applied Agriculture. Washington, D. C.
  38. Coldevin, G. (2008). Making a difference through development communication: Some evidence-based results from FAO field projects. In J. Servaes (Ed.), Communication for Development and Social Change(pp.14-429). India: Sage Publications India Pvt Ltd.
  39. Cooley, C. H. (1902). Human nature and the social order. New York: Charles Scribners.
  40. Coughlan, M. Cronin, P. & Ryan, F. (2007). Step by step guide to criticing literature. Part 1: qualitative research. British Journal of Nursing, 16(11), 14-27. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17577184
  41. Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approches. (2nd ed.). California: Sage Publications Ltd.
  42. Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. U.S.A.: Sage Publications, Inc.
  43.  
The Effect of Shared Meaning between Extension Officers and Farmers on the Adoption of Irish Potato Farming in Kenya
PDF
Published
  • September 11, 2020
Categories
Copyright
  • Copyright (c) 2020 Kinya Kathure Kigatiira
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.