Type | Working Paper |
Title | Farmers’ Opinions on the Effectiveness of Extension Agents in Influencing Adoption of Agricultural Innovations in Njombe District, Tanzania |
Author(s) | |
Publication (Day/Month/Year) | 2016 |
Abstract | In this study, the extension agents refer to the Village Extension Officers (VEOs) and Paraprofessionals (PARAs). VEOs are government extension officers while PARAs are the model farmers who are trained and facilitated to act as extension agents. This study therefore analyzed farmers’ opinions on adoption of agricultural innovations. Data were collected from 160 randomly selected respondents in eight purposively selected villages using structured questionnaires. Observations, focused group discussions and secondary data supplemented the questionnaires. Descriptive statistics was used in data analysis. Findings revealed that majority of farmers agreed that PARAs bring extension services closer to farmers and they feel free to contact PARAs. The study recommended that PARAs should be provided with further training programmes so as to address their technical deficiencies in their work. Furthermore, VEOs should be given enough working facilities so as to increase their morale of work and hence more opportunities to contact farmers. |
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