Influence of Acquired Knowledge on Irrigation and Crop Management Technologies among Smallholders’ Farmers of Oluch-Kimira, Homa Bay County, Kenya

Abstract

This article aims to determine the level of retained knowledge acquired through trainings on Irrigation and crop management technologies among smallholder farmers in Oluch-Kimira irrigation schemes, Kenya. Farmers were trained and a common knowledge test was administered after sometime for both irrigation participant and non-participant of irrigation technology. The result was analyzed descriptively and inferentially and the findings recorded. Descriptively the result indicated that, the mean score for irrigation participants (IRRP) was 74.5% and 53%t for non-irrigation participants (NIRRP). The result further indicated that the (IRRP) scored high in 17 statements than the (NIRRP) indicating that they had acquired higher knowledge than NIRRP. On the other hand the NIRRP scored high in statements 9 (Flooding can control pests in the field) and 15 (Intercropping beans with maize create unnecessary completion thus low yields) with a score of 54.3% for NIRRP against 44.7% for IRRP and 58.8% for NIRRP against 41.2% for IRRP respectively; whether this difference was significant or not it was determined by testing the hypothesis and concluded that, the difference in score for IRRP and NIRRP is significant. Hence we can infer that the training on irrigation and management technologies was effective.