Abstract
This paper presents the findings of challenges facing Zimbabwe’s extension services and how these have affected the adoption of technologies they render to small-scale farmers. This study uses a critical review of relevant literature on Zimbabwe’s primary public extension agency (AGRITEX). Additionally, 21 key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted to corroborate data collected in secondary research on extension approaches currently in use, the key factors affecting technology adoption, and the technology adoption process of small-scale farmers. The study found AGRITEX’s major challenges to be poor funding, poor remuneration and incentives for extension personnel, lack of in-service training, lack of appropriate technology, as well as poor operational resources like transport to reach all farmers. Consequently, services offered to small-scale farmers were compromised, which led to poor adoption of recommended technologies. Furthermore, the study determined that key factors influencing technology adoption are related to the farmers’ circumstances, the operating environment, and the attributes of technology itself. As a lasting solution to poor technology adoption, an adaptive extension system that promotes building the capacity of extension workers and researchers, as well as embracing farmers and their indigenous knowledge, is proposed.
Highlights
The public extension is the main source of extension services for small-scale farmers in developing countries like Zimbabwe (Mapiye et al, 2021)
The purpose of key informant interviews (KIIs) was to corroborate data collected in secondary research on extension approaches currently in use as well to identify main factors affecting the adoption of technology by small-scale farmers; and investigate the technology adoption process of small-scale farmers
Extension services offered in Zimbabwe and other developing countries have been deficient regarding accuracy, relevance and applicability to farmers’ problems (Mapiye et al, 2021)
Summary
The public extension is the main source of extension services for small-scale farmers in developing countries like Zimbabwe (Mapiye et al, 2021). AGRITEX falls under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement (MLAFWRR) and is represented at the village, ward, district, provincial and national levels It was formed in 1980, after Zimbabwe obtained independence, merging the Department of Conservation and Extension (CONEX) and the Department of Agricultural Development (DEVAG), serving the (white) large-scale, ‘commercial’ farmers and the (black) small-scale, ‘communal’ farmers, respectively (HanyaniMlambo, 2002). Since creating AGRITEX, the ‘commercial’ farmers never accepted that AGRITEX was competent enough to advise them (Hanyani-Mlambo, 2002) This resulted in AGRITEX concentrating services on the small-scale farming sector and recently on resettled farmers from the fast-track land reform programmes of the early 2000s. AGRITEX has experienced multiple systemic challenges which are complex and multifaceted, including poor funding, high turnover of experienced, competent and skilled staff, as well as mostly disseminating and recommending ‘old’ technologies developed 15 to 20 years ago (Mapiye et al, 2021; Moyo & Salawu, 2018; Muchesa et al, 2019)
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