Impact of Funding on Performance of Agricultural Extension Services in Bomet, Kenya: Case of Community-Based Organizations

Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess the impact of funding on the performance of community-based organizations (CBOs) in delivering agricultural extension services in Bomet Central Sub County, Kenya. Specifically, the study aims to explore the relationship between funding and the capacity of CBOs to deliver extension services. A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from 327 respondents, including CBO members and officials. A systematic random sampling method was used to select respondents, and descriptive statistics revealed that a majority of respondents believed that the current funding for agricultural extension programs was inadequate and that increasing funding would significantly enhance the performance of CBOs in delivering extension services. Furthermore, lack of funding was identified as a hindrance to the provision of effective extension services by CBOs. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that community funding had a significant positive influence on CBO performance, accounting for 67.1% of the variations in performance (t = 2.149, p<0.05). These findings highlight the crucial role of funding in supporting CBOs in delivering comprehensive and timely extension services and emphasize the need for increased financial support to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce poverty and food insecurity in rural communities. This study contributes to the existing literature by specifically exploring the relationship between funding, CBOs, and agricultural extension services and providing recommendations for improving funding mechanisms to enable CBOs to fulfill their potential as catalysts for sustainable rural development.