Determining smallholder farmers' preferences for technology dissemination pathways: the case of ‘push–pull’ technology in the control of stemborer and Striga weeds in Kenya

Abstract

The push–pull technology (PPT) has widely been disseminated to control insect stemborers [Chilo partellus and Busseola fusca] and Striga weeds [Striga hermonthica and Striga asiatica] in maize fields in Kenya. This study examined farmers' preferences for various dissemination pathways in order to proffer better targeting of resources in an optimal dissemination strategy. The pathways considered were public meetings (barazas), radio, farmer field schools (FFS), field days (FD), farmer teachers (FT), fellow farmers (FF) and printed materials. Using a weighted score index and ordered probit regression, the different pathways were sequentially ranked as FD, FT, FFS, FF, print materials, Radio, and barazas. Marginal effects from the ordered probit regression model showed that farmers had the least preference for baraza and radio pathways. The farmer categories with the highest preference for particular pathways were: less educated farmers for FD, farmers with small land sizes for FT, farmers belonging to groups for FFS, and young educated farmers for the printed materials. This information would help disseminators and extension agents to target different groups of farmers with different pathways of knowledge transfer based on their preferences.