Stakeholders'Knowledge Levels and Training in Soil Fertility Management Technologies in the Central Highlands of Kenya
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Date
2013-03-25
Authors
Macharia, Joseph Maina
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Abstract
Soil nutrient depletion has been recognized as one of the major biophysical constraints
affecting agricultural production in Sub Saharan Africa. Despite many researches that
have developed various soil fertility management options, few of the recommendations
from these researches have been put into use by the targeted end users. This has been
associated with low levels of knowledge and understanding about these technologies
among the stakeholders. The objective of the study was therefore to identify and
understand the knowledge levels among various stakeholders as well as identify training
requirements of the farmers and extension agents for effective and enhanced uptake and
utilization of these technologies in the central highlands of Kenya. The study was carried
out in Meru South, Maara and Mbeere South districts. Five focus group discussions were
conducted in every district to complement data collected through questionnaires. To
determinethe socioeconomic factors influencing farmers' levels of knowledge, individual
household intervie~s were conducted from 300 randomly selected farmers. Structured
questionnaires were used to collect information from 55 extension agents from the study
area.Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Chi-square and ANOV A were used
to test the magnitude of the association between dependent and independent variables.
Logit regression was used to predict the demographic factors influencing the farmers'
levelsof knowledge in manure, fertilizers and manure + fertilizers in the study area using
statisticalpackage for social sciences (SPSS) programme version 12.0. Results showed
that, 75% of the respondents in the study area had high levels of knowledge in use of
animalmanure. In the use of inorganic fertilizers, 73% of the respondents had high levels
of knowledge. However, with regard to the use of manure + fertilizers, 43% of the
respondents had moderate levels of knowledge. The use of soil fertility technologies in
the study area increased with an increase in levels.of knowledge. Logit regression model
identified age of the household head (r=0.028), training in the use of animal- manure
(r=0.509) and group membership (r=0.304) as possible predictor factors likely to
influence the household levels ·Qf knowledge in use of animal manure at P<0.05. On
knowledge in the use of fertilizers, ,group membership (r=0.364), age of the household
head (HHH) (r=-0.084) and total farm size (r=-0.138) were identified as possible
predictor factors likely to influence the household levels of knowledge in inorganic
fertilizers at P<0.05. With regard to the use of manure + fertilizers, Logit regression
identifiedgender of the HHH (r=-0.713), household size (r=0.100), training on manure +
fertilizers (r=0.598), group membership (r=0.254) and total farm size (r=-0.122) as
possible predictor factors likely to influence the household levels of knowledge in
manure + fertilizers at P<0.05. The priority training need for farmers in the study area
was soil testing (mean of 4.4) while for the extension agents was the use of animal
manure+ fertilizers (mean of 4.6). The most preferred training methods by the farmers
werefield days and on-farm demonstrations while the extension agents preferred on-farm
demonstrations. These results imply that there is need for regular farmers' training based
on their identified training needs. The finding provide a guide to the policy makers in
designing capacity building modules and materials targeted at different stakeholders,
thereby increasing stakeholders' levels of knowledge and adoption levels of the soil
fertilitymanagement technologies. This is envisaged to lead to increased crop production
andreduction of extreme poverty.