Determinants of Farmers’ Level of Interaction with Agricultural Extension Agencies in Northwest Ethiopia

Yemane Asmelash Gebremariam,Beneberu Assefa Wondimagegnhu,Amare Sewenet Minale,Mark Breusers,Jan Nyssen,Enyew Adgo,Lutgart Lenaerts,Joost Dessein,Zemen Ayalew

doi:10.3390/su13063447

Yemane Asmelash Gebremariam, Beneberu Assefa Wondimagegnhu + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063447

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Mar 20, 2021
Citations: 8	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Ghent University, Bahir Dar University, KU Leuven

Abstract

This research identifies critical determinants for interactions between farmers and extension agencies. Cross-sectional farm household-level data from three hundred household heads were collected between September 2019 and March 2020 and triangulated with data from workshops with farmers and extension agents. The data were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient, Kruskal–Wallis analysis of variance and the ordered probit model. Farmers’ socio-economic characteristics significantly affect their degree of interaction with extension agencies. Recognition of the determinants of the level of farmers’ interactions can inform policymakers about how to formulate and improve the effectiveness of extension programs, enhance information and knowledge dissemination and facilitate development in collaboration with local communities by focusing on a better interaction between farmers and extension agencies. The level of a farmer’s interactions is based on a systematic decision-making process. Although personal and demographic characteristics are important, farmers’ interaction levels require conducive institutional and household assets, groups/social capital and access to extension agents’ contexts. These contexts will differ by household, country and region. Therefore, extension agencies should create and design contextually appropriate strategies for substantial interactions with farmers for the dissemination of farm information. This research is original and valuable in identifying the factors associated with the level of farmers’ interactions with extension agencies in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. It also provides a new pathway for operationalizing farmer-oriented agricultural extension policies and strategies and to help agricultural policymakers formulate extension service programs.

Highlights

Farmers require timely, adequate and appropriate information to help them increase production and their incomes and market their products effectively [1]
The variables found to be statistically significant in determining the level of farmers’ interaction include the age of the household head, the farming experience of the head, the numbers of active family members and dependents, membership to Iddirs and Mahibers, physical distance to the extension agent’s office, annual participation in agricultural training and field days, access to irrigation, oxen ownership, the amount of leased and irrigated land cultivated by the household, ownership of a radio and the wealth status of the household
The results indicate that a one-unit increase in annual participation in agricultural training decreases the probability of interaction with extension agents, cooperatives and water users’ associations by 0.4%, 3% and 2%, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Adequate and appropriate information to help them increase production and their incomes and market their products effectively [1]. Extension services play a vital role in these aspects. These services provide a tool to lessen extreme poverty and reduce hunger in developing countries [2]. Agricultural extension is expected to respond to emerging issues such as crop infestations. Extension services need to be demanddriven, relevant to farmers and responsive to their needs [3]. As farmers are one of the key Sustainability 2021, 13, 3447.

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