Browsing by Author "Anyuor Samantha Akoth"

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    Effectiveness of agricultural extension in adoption of climate change adaptation technologies among smallholder farmers in Nyatike sub-county, Kenya
    (Chuka University, 2024) Anyuor Samantha Akoth
    Adaptation is a crucial component of the long-term global response to climate change, necessary for protecting people, livelihoods, and ecosystems. It is imperative for countries and communities to devise adaptation strategies and take proactive measures to address both current and anticipated impacts of climate change. Although agricultural extension services have promoted best practices and technologies to enhance the adaptive capacity and resilience of farming communities, the adoption of climate change adaptation practices remains low among farmers, especially in developing countries. This low adoption rate may be attributed to limited awareness of climate change and the use of ineffective extension approaches for disseminating information on adaptation practices. Moreover, relatively few studies have examined the weaknesses and suitability of the methods and approaches used by agricultural extension agents to help farmers effectively manage climate risks. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of agricultural extension in the dissemination and adoption of climate change adaptation practices among farmers. The study focused on 26,354 smallholder farmers residing in Kachieng, Kanyasa, Macalder, Muhuru, Kaler, Got-Kachola, and North-Kadem wards. Data were collected using a pretested semistructured questionnaire administered to a sample of 395 households selected through cluster sampling. A pilot study was conducted in Suba South, and the research instrument was found to be reliable. Data were processed and analyzed using SPSS version 25, with results summarized using descriptive and inferential statistics. The influence of awareness and the use of interpersonal and mass media extension channels on the adoption of adaptation practices was tested using Analysis of Variance and ordinal logistic regression respectively, while Spearman’s rank correlation was employed to determine the effect of the project-based approach on adoption. The results indicated that 98% of respondents perceived changes in weather patterns. Awareness level had a significant influence on adoption of adaptation practices at p < 0.05 for the three levels (F (2, 392) = 11.389, p = 0.00). The effect size was 0.07 indicating a moderate effect of awareness level of adoption of adaptation practices. Post hoc comparisons revealed that the mean adoption level for the highly aware group (M = 137.29, SD = 29.35) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the aware (M = 121.70, SD = 31.03) and the undecided group (M = 112.85, SD = 45.95). Access to adaptation information through interpersonal channels (Coefficient = 1.957, SE = 0.449, Wald χ² = 18.975, p < 0.05) and mass media channels (Coefficient = 2.123, SE = 0.467, Wald χ² = 0.069, p = 0.012) was significantly associated with the adoption of climate adaptation practices, the effectiveness of the project-based extension approach was positively correlated with the adoption of adaptation practices (ρ = .31). The study concluded that awareness of climate impacts, the use of mass media and interpersonal extension methods, and the project-based approach influenced the adoption of climate adaptation practices. However, the project-based approach was only moderately effective, indicating the need for more diverse, context-specific projects based on thorough needs assessments and intensive involvement of local communities. To promote timely and effective dissemination of climate adaptation information to farmers, a combination of extension communication channels and approaches is recommended.