Does Participation in Farmer Field School Extension Program Improve Crop Yields? Evidence from Smallholder Tea Production Systems in Kenya
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Date
2019
Authors
Ateka, Josiah M
Onono - Okelo, Perez Ayieko
Etyang, Martin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ijamad
Abstract
Agricultural Extension services are among the most important
rural services in developing countries. The
services are considered to be a key driver of technological
change and productivity growth in agriculture. In Kenya, like
in the rest of the developing economies, agricultural extension
has largely been delivered through supply–driven approaches.
Due to perceived low impact of agricultural extension, the
country is implementing the National Extension Policy (NEP)
which advocates for demand–driven extension and participation
of other players. Using the case of the smallholder tea
sub-sector, this paper examines the effects the FFS extension
on tea crop yields in Kenya. The FFS system uses participatory
approaches including the demonstration of best sustainable
practices in the farms and farmers learn by doing. Data for
the study was collected from a sample of 525 farm households
in Western Kenya using a multi stage random sampling procedure
and analyzed using the propensity score matching
(PSM) model which controls for self-selection endogeneity.
The results show that participation in FFS extension increases
annual tea yields by an average of 471.70 kgs per acre
(p=0.009) while the farmer–funded train and visit system
has no influence on crop yields. A part from showing the
contribution of FFS to crop yields, the paper demonstrates
that the supply–driven extension models including T&V are
necessary to stimulate demand in the initial stages of implementing
the FFS models. Based on the findings, investments
to enhance FFS access among smallholder farmers are recommended.
Description
article
Keywords
FFS extension, train and visit, tea productivity, demand–driven extension services, propensity score matching, self-selection endogeneity
Citation
Ateka, J., Onono, P., & Etyang, M. (2019). Does participation in farmer field school extension program improve crop yields? Evidence from smallholder tea production systems in Kenya. International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development, 9(4), 409-423.