Untrained Farmers Research Articles

Farmers’ Perception on Pesticide Use and Pest Management of Vegetable Crops: In the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia, in the Case of Fogera Plain

This study examines the impact of training on smallholder farmers' pesticide handling practices, perceptions, and behaviors, with a focus on the correlation between training and several key factors, including pesticide storage, pest identification skills, pest management strategies, pesticide application frequency, information sources, protective equipment use, pesticide mixing habits, and disposal of empty pesticide containers. The research highlights that training plays a significant role in improving farmers' pesticide handling practices, although some areas still require additional education or interventions for further improvement. Significant associations were found between training and pest identification abilities. Farmers who received training were more adept at recognizing pests such as onion thrips (X<sup>2</sup> = 17.130, p < .001), downy mildew (X<sup>2</sup> = 10.221, p = 0.001), fruit borers (X<sup>2</sup> = 26.246, p < .001), and white flies (X<sup>2</sup> = 3.226, p = 0.072) compared to untrained farmers. Trained farmers were also more likely to seek reliable information from extension workers (X<sup>2</sup> = 13.18, p < 0.001), chemical dealers (X<sup>2</sup> = 15.44, p < 0.001), personal experience (X<sup>2</sup> = 8.03, p = 0.005), and product labels (X<sup>2</sup> = 14.36, p < 0.001), whereas untrained farmers were more inclined to guess or rely on informal sources (X<sup>2</sup> = 21.85, p < 0.001). Regarding pesticide storage, trained farmers were more likely to store pesticides safely, away from living areas, children, and animals, whereas untrained farmers often stored pesticides indoors. Training also affected mixing practices, with trained farmers less likely to mix pesticides near water sources (X<sup>2</sup> = 6.4, p = 0.01) and more likely to mix them in the field (X<sup>2</sup> = 51.38, p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in practices such as mixing pesticides according to the recommended doses (X<sup>2</sup> = 3.15, p = 0.08) or mixing different types of pesticides (X<sup>2</sup> = 0.31, p = 0.58). Trained farmers demonstrated better adherence to safety protocols, such as using personal protective equipment (PPE) and avoiding pesticide mixing at home. They were also more likely to triple-rinse spray tanks and avoid discharging pesticides into irrigation ditches. However, no significant differences were observed in reading pesticide instructions before spraying (X<sup>2</sup> = 0.24, p = 0.63), indicating a need for further emphasis on this aspect during training. Overall, the study confirms that training significantly improves safe pesticide handling but suggests areas for further education and intervention.

IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL TRAINING COURSES ON APPLYING MODERN AND EFFICIENT IRRIGATION METHODS AMONG FARMERS IN TABRIZ, IRAN (TREATMENT EFFECT APPROACH)

Purpose: Many experts believe that the lack of an efficient water management system in agriculture has made it essential to redesign new irrigation models adopted in many successful countries across the world. Improving water productivity in the agriculture sector is undoubtedly one of the crucial measures taken to improve water resource management. Water productivity in Iran's agriculture is about one-fifth of the global standard. Many assume that accurate training courses for farmers or granting production facilities and loans for agriculturists are beneficial steps to use efficient and effective irrigation methods and a subsequent considerable saving in water consumption.
 Design/methodology/approach: This study aims to apply the Treatment Effect Approach to examine the impact of academic or promotional training courses for irrigation efficiency on the application of modern and efficient irrigation methods, by farmers. To do this, 132 trained farmers were assigned to the treatment or test groups, and 212 untrained farmers in Tabriz were assigned to the control group in the crop year 2020. 
 Findings: Results indicated a positive and significant impact of agriculture education and training courses on the probability of using efficient irrigation techniques. In other words, agriculture knowledge increases the probability of using modern irrigation methods up to 344.25. 
 Originality: It is suggested that agricultural policies must grant loans and facilities to agriculturists or those farmers who have received purposeful training courses about the application of efficient irrigation methods.

Structure Conduct and Performance of Rice Marketing in Ndop, North West Region Cameroon

The notion of ensuring food for all through rice production in Cameroon dates back to 1954 with the creation of SEMRY (Sociétéd Expansionet de Modernization de la Riziculture de Yagoua). Consequently, rice production in Cameroon was left at the mercy of untrained farmers with limited or no access to input and technology. This study examines the effect of market structure and conduct on the performance of Ndop rice marketing. The research interviewed a total of 50 respondents (19 farmers-traders, 12 millers, 9 wholesalers and 10 retailers) who were selected randomly. The data was analyzed with the use of Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 and Excel while the Weighted Least Squares regression technique was employed for the estimation of coefficients and test of hypothesis. Performance of the Ndop marketing was captured in a broad dimension which included aspects of product quality and product efficiency, market structure was captured by product homogeneity, entry and exit and market growth rate, while market conduct was captured by the marketing strategy, price strategy and product strategy. Result of the findings revealed that market structure and conduct positively and significantly influences the performance of the Ndop rice marketing. Effort should be directed towards improving the quality and quantity of local rice for it to compete with imported counterpart. This can be achieved by subsidizing cost of milling and monitoring the processing and packaging of locally produced rice at every stage in the marketing chain. The improvement of farm to market roads, the varieties of seeds as well as subsidizing the production process will go a long way to improve market performance.

Impact of Training Programme on Drip Irrigation Technology in Cotton Production in Madhya Pradesh

Water is as crucial for crops and vegetation as it is for humans and animals. Drip Irrigation is the most effi cient water and nutrient delivery system for growing crops. Cotton is an important agro-industrial crop, used in making clothes and in the textile industry, occupying more than 11.3-million-hectare area in India. The technology transfer through training, demonstration and extension activities has been viewed as most important critical factors for increasing agriculture production. The study was conducted in Barwani district of West Nimar region Madhya Pradesh due to its having maximum number of trained farmers of KVK on drip irrigation in cotton production technology. In this study 60 trained and 60 untrained farmers were selected randomly, thus the total sample was consisted of 120 respondents for the study. Majority 60.00 per cent respondents (trained farmers) had medium category of knowledge about cotton production through drip irrigation technology. Out of the total 60 untrained farmers, majority 58.33 per cent respondents had medium knowledge about drip irrigation technology in cotton production category. Majority 58.33 per cent respondents (trained farmers) had medium adoption of drip irrigation technology in cotton production category

Experimental Evidence on Adoption and Impact of the System of Rice Intensification

We report the results of a large‐scale, multi‐year experimental evaluation of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), an innovation that first emerged in Madagascar in the 1980s and has now diffused to more than fifty countries. Using a randomized training saturation design with a pure control group, we find that greater cross‐sectional or intertemporal intensity of direct or indirect training exposure to SRI has a sizable, positive effect on Bangladeshi farmers' propensity to adopt (and not to disadopt) SRI. We find large, positive, and significant impacts of SRI training on rice yields and profits, as well as multiple household well‐being indicators, for both trained and untrained farmers in training villages. We also find high rates of disadoption, and clear indications of non‐random selection into technology adoption conditional on randomized exposure to training, such that adopters and non‐adopters within the same treatment arm experience similar outcomes. Rice yields, profits, and household well‐being outcomes do not, however, vary at the intensive margin with intensity of training exposure, a finding consistent with multi‐object learning models.

RELEVANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF FARMER TRAINING CENTERS (FTCs) BASED TRAINING IN GUREWA DISTRICT, EAST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA.

Agriculture is the backbone of Ethiopia country economic development strategy and the main source of livelihood in terms of employment, generating foreign currency and raw materials for industries. Farmer Training Centers (FTCs) was established as a means to develop human resource and enhance innovation needed to transform the sector to productive and market oriented system. The main purpose of this study was to analyze the relevance and effectiveness of FTCs in Gurawa woreda in terms of changes in knowledge, attitude and practical levels, and explore institutional linkages with of the FTCs. This study used cross-sectional survey method to obtain the necessary data in 2018/19 production season. The data was obtained from 120 (60 trained and 60 untrained) randomly selected respondents from 4 kebeles using probability proportion to size sampling method. In addition, KII, FGD, and review of available record at FTCs were used for data collection. Relevance of FTCs were obtained based on the identifications of farmers’ needs and constraints, content of training, training delivery methods, selection criteria of trainees and appropriateness of period, duration and schedules of trainings were vary among the sampled in the area. Effectiveness of FTCs were identified based on the obtained result of knowledge, attitude and practical assessment of trained and untrained farmers, their mean difference of trained farmers towards the given technologies and commodities were significantly higher than untrained farmers at 1%, 1%, and 5% (p=0.01,0.01 and 0.05) of probability level respectively. According to the linkage mechanisms, the public, private and NGOs was identified as a key actors for institutional linkages which are weak in the functioning of FTCs based training.

Study the relationship between adoption level and Scio-economic profile of trained and untrained farmers of northern Karnataka, India

The present study was conducted in Northern Karnataka. Vijayapur and Bagalkot districts were selected purposively as the training has been organized by the KVKs and AEECs of both UAS Dharwad and UHS Bagalkot. The list of trained framers will be obtained from these centers. Depending upon area of activities where the farmers are trained based on that 30 trained and 30 untrained farmers were selected randomly from respective district. Thus, the sample size is 120 farmers. The data was collected by personal interview method. Research findings reported that the independent variables like education, extension participation and mass media participation shows highly significant and positive relationship with adoption level at 0.01 level of probability. Farming experience and cossmopolitness shows positive and significant relationship with adoption level in four different components of training at 0.05 level of probability. Other variables like age, land holing and annual income showed non-significant relationship with adoption level in both trained and untrained farmers.

Retrospective analysis of iatrogenic diseases in cattle requiring admission to a veterinary hospital

Iatrogenic diseases in veterinary medicine are often related to malpractice or lack of skill. For this retrospective study, 4262 clinical records of cattle admitted to the veterinary teaching hospital of...

Nutritional imbalance in smallholder oil palm plantations in Indonesia

In Indonesia more than 40% of the area under oil palm is owned by smallholders. The productivity in smallholder plantations is usually less than in large plantations, and limited fertiliser applications may be one of the key reasons. We investigated the use of fertilisers by > 300 smallholder farmers in Sumatra and Kalimantan, some of whom were involved in training programmes aimed at yield improvement. In our sample, the total applications of N were largest (166 kg ha−1 year−1), followed by K (122 kg) and P (56 kg). The applications of K were insufficient to compensate for the off-take with a production of 20 tonne fruit bunches ha−1 year−1, while N applications were excessive. On average, farmers applied 1130 kg fertiliser ha−1 year−1, and relied strongly on subsidised fertilisers, especially NPK Ponska (66%) and urea (39%). The average costs for fertiliser application were USD 225 ha−1 year−1. Trained farmers applied significantly more P in one research area, but for the other nutrients and research areas, there was no significant difference between trained and untrained farmers. Plantation size and nutrient application were weakly correlated in some areas, but not in the sample as a whole. Previously reported nutrient application rates were mostly less than our findings indicated, suggesting that actual nutrient limitations may be more severe. To overcome nutrient limitations and enhance nutrient use efficiency, we recommend that fertilisers are used in the correct balance; a ground cover vegetation is maintained to protect against erosion; and the application of empty fruit bunches is encouraged.

Aberrant use and poor quality of trypanocides: a risk for drug resistance in south western Ethiopia

BackgroundTrypanocidal drugs have been used to control African animal trypanosomosis for several decades. In Ethiopia, these drugs are available from both authorized (legal) and unauthorized (illegal) sources but documentation on utilization practices and quality of circulating products is scanty. This study looked at the practices of trypanocidal drug utilization by farmers and the integrity of active ingredient in trypanocides sold in Gurage zone, south western Ethiopia. The surveys were based on a structured questionnaire and drug quality determination of commonly used brands originating from European and Asian companies and sold at both authorized and unauthorized markets. One hundred farmers were interviewed and 50 drug samples were collected in 2013 (Diminazene aceturate = 33 and Isometamidium chloride = 17; 25 from authorized and 25 from unauthorized sources). Samples were tested at the OIE-certified Veterinary Drug Control Laboratory (LACOMEV) in Dakar, Senegal, by using galenic standards and high performance liquid chromatography.ResultsTrypanosomosis was found to be a major threat according to all interviewed livestock keepers in the study area. Diminazene aceturate and isometamidium chloride were preferred by 79% and 21% of the respondents respectively, and 85% of them indicated that an animal receives more than six treatments per year. About 60% of these treatments were reported to be administered by untrained farmers. Trypanocidal drug sources included both unauthorized outlets (56%) and authorized government and private sources (44%). A wide availability and usage of substandard quality drugs was revealed. Twenty eight percent of trypanocidal drugs tested failed to comply with quality requirements. There was no significant difference in the frequency of non-compliance between diminazene-based and isometamidium chloride products (P = 0.87) irrespective of the marketing channel (official and unofficial). However, higher rates of non-compliant trypanocides were detected for drugs originating from Asia than from Europe (P = 0.029).ConclusionThe findings revealed the presence of risk factors for the development of drug resistance, i.e. wide distribution of poor quality drugs as well as substandard administration practices. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to enforce regulatory measures for quality control of veterinary drugs, to expand and strengthen veterinary services and to undertake trypanocidal drug efficacy studies of wider coverage.

English

English

Knowledge systems and value chain integration: the case of linseed production in Ethiopia

ABSTRACTPurpose: This study uses data from a sample of 150 oilseed farming households from Arsi Robe, Ethiopia, to assess the impact of different knowledge bases (education, training and experience) and their interactions on linseed productivity.Methodology: A multiple regression analysis was employed to assess the combined effect of the knowledge bases, factors such as age of the household head, land size, marketing channels and geophysical factors (such as land slope) on linseed productivity.Findings: The findings reveal no differences in productivity between trained and untrained farmers. They further show that training and the interaction between training and experience positively influence productivity. Our findings, however, reveal farmer education to have an inverse yet insignificant effect on productivity. Furthermore, we found that factors such as the slope of the land and the choice of marketing channel also play an important role in influencing productivity.Practical implications: Moving away from the traditional top-down approach could be the answer to avoid a mismatch between the information given by trainers and what the farmers actually need.Theoretical implications: The study used interaction variables of knowledge bases, and attempted to demonstrate the importance of a tacit knowledge base, which is often not well documented and therefore neglected in research.Originality/value: The research demonstrates the combined effects that interactions between several knowledge bases have on the productivity of linseed farmers.

Cocoa Farmers Attitude towards Utilisation of Integrated Pest Management in Edo and Ogun States of Nigeria

The study examined cocoa farmers’ attitude towards the utilization of integrated pest management (IPM) in Edo and Ogun States of Nigeria. In Edo State, 60 respondents were randomly selected out of 100 trained cocoa farmers. Random selection of 60 respondents from registered cocoa farmers that were not trained in IPM was done in the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme. Interview schedule was used to obtain data on respondents’ characteristics, cocoa yield and attitude of respondents towards IPM. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square. The majority (60.8%) of the respondents were in the age bracket of 41 and 60 years while 89.2% of the respondents were males. The majority (73.3%) of trained and 56.7% of untrained had formal education. The total respondents result showed that 49.2% had favourable attitude. There was a significant relationship between both the attitude of trained respondents (X 2 =5.72, P<0.05) and their cocoa bean yield of and the attitude of untrained respondents (X 2 =5.64, P<0.05) and their cocoa bean yield. The mean yield of trained respondents (1436.3±1196.4 kg) significantly differed from that of the untrained respondents (1209.3±524.3kg), which shows that IPM training had much impact on farmer’s cocoa yield, hence, untrained farmers need training in IPM.

Correlates of socio-economic and psychological characteristics of the dairy farmers with the adoption of improved management practices

A field study to examine the correlates of socio-economic and psychological characteristics of the dairy farmers with the adoption improved management practices was conducted. Ex-post facto, a quasi-experimental design was used. A random sampling technique was employed to select the dairy farmers for the study. The investigation was carried out on a set on 60 trained and 60 untrained dairy farmers selected from the three districts namely Bathinda, Mansa and Sri Muktsar Sahib of Malwa region of Punjab. The 20 farmers who undergone training from the KVKs of above selected districts during the period of 2011–2013 were selected and referred as trained dairy farmers and for the comparative analysis, an equal matching sample of 20 untrained dairy farmers was also selected from each district. Thus, a sample of 120 dairy farmers was selected for the present study. The adoption was measured in the major four areas such as breeding, feeding, health care and miscellaneous management. The findings revealed that large proportion of the trained dairy farmers (70.00 per cent) were found in medium category of adoption followed by (30.00 per cent) high level of adoption, whereas, the 60.00 per cent of the untrained dairy were in medium category of adoption followed by (36.67 per cent dairy farmers who fell in the low category of adoption. The zero order correlation revealed that the characteristics of the trained dairy farmers such as education, dairy experience, herd size, annual Income, scientific orientation and market orientation were positively and significantly correlated at 0.01 level of probability with the adoption of the dairy practices whereas age and operational land holding, annual income and economic motivation were positively and significantly correlated at 0.05 level of probability. On the other hand, the characteristics of the untrained dairy farmers such as operational land holding herd size and annual income had shown a positive and significant correlation at 0.01 level of probability with adoption of the dairy practices and the family size, economic motivation were positively and significantly correlated at 0.05 level of probability.

Constraints encountered by the farmers in adoption of modern maize production techniques

Maize is the major staple crop of Udaipur (Rajasthan) region. The production of this crop is low compared with average yield of major maize producing areas and as compared to demonstrations. The reasons may be many. The study was conducted with the objective to determine the constraints being encountered by the farmers in adoption of modern maize production techniques. Total 160 farmers from four villages of three Panchyat samities (Girva, Dhariawad and Kherwara), district Udaipur (Rajasthan) were interviewed for data collection. Structured interview schedule was used for the purpose. The findings revealed that untrained farmers encountered more severe constraints in adoption of modern maize production techniques. For 10 defined techniques, untrained framers faced relatively more severe constraints in adoption of modern techniques. It is recommended that Government Department of Agriculture and Universities must intensify the training programmes of farmers, because untrained are constrained more. Techniques, viz., improved seed, seed treatment, soil treatment, method of sowing, seed rate and time of sowing, fertilizer application, chemical control of weeds, plant protection measures, ecological constraints, post-harvest technology and marketing need special emphasis while training the farmers.

Effectiveness of Modular Training at Farmers’ Training Center: Evidence from Fogera District, South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

Training helps to enhance human capabilities in improving the level of thinking and ways of life. However, in rural Ethiopia, access to modular training is not well deliberated. This paper is attempted to understand effectiveness of modular training at farmers’ training centre in <i>Fogera</i> district.<b> </b>The aim of the research was identifying the knowledge gap of the farmers, linkages of institutions and positive deviances of training centres. The study was conducted in 2010 from 120 households selected in systematic random sampling. Interview schedule was applied for data collection supplemented with field observation and focused group discussion. Teacher made test, practice test, Likert scale and linkage matrix were employed to examine the effectiveness of modular training. The result revealed that knowledge, skill, attitude and institutional linkage are essential variables which influence effectiveness of modular training significantly.<b> </b>This study has also shown that trained farmers are likely to be positive deviants in beekeeping than untrained farmers. Even though the duration and seasons of training were adequate and convenient, low participation of women and theoretical nature of trainings made the program ineffective. This implies that practical training and integration of actors enable to diversify production potentials. Emphasis should be given for proper functioning of training centres that could be achieved through stability of the program, institutional linkage and knowledge management schemes.

Effectiveness of Different Methods (Training, Demonstration, Exhibition, e-Extension and e-MAT) on Adoption of Agricultural Innovations – An Exploratory Study

To ensure the desired impact of the extension programmes, it is imperative that suitable extension strategies are evolved to disseminate different technologies to different categories of the farmers. The study was conducted in five villages of Tarapur Block of Munger District of Bihar, India. The villages were denoted by V1, V2, V3, V4 and V5 of a given district and as many as 30 farmers, 10 each from marginal, small and large farmers categories called groups, were selected from each village randomly and were represented by G1, G2 and G3 of a given village, respectively. The 30 farmers forming the experiment group in the villages were trained to seek the information/message and were closely monitored while under exposure through e-extension. On the other hand, under e-based Management of Agricultural Technology (e-MAT) treatment, the group was exposed to the technology packages through e-extension well mixed with all the three extension methods. Lectures, visit, pamphlets, charts, banners, specimens, etc., which were commonly used with the first three methods were also used with all the five methods in this experiment for consecutive two years. As a result, it was seen that e-MAT is an effective extension method. There were significant differences in the mean knowledge scores, attitude scores and adoption quotient of trained and untrained farmers about the package of practices of high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice. The trained farmers had significantly higher knowledge scores, attitude scores and adoption quotient about the package of practices of high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice than untrained farmers.

Appraisal of hygiene indicators and farming practices in the production of leafy vegetables by organic small-scale farmers in uMbumbulu (Rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa).

During October, November and December 2011 (when highest sales of Agri-Hub fresh produce are observed), irrigation water, compost, lettuce and spinach sampled from four different farmer cooperatives supplying the local Agri-Hub in uMbumbulu (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) were analyzed monthly for the presence of total and fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli using the most probable number (MPN) technique. The pH values for all irrigation water samples analyzed were within the acceptable range of 6.5–8.5 for agricultural use. Fecal coliform levels were <1,000 MPN per 100 mL irrigation water and <1,000 MPN per g of compost. The vegetables produced by Agri-Hub small-scale farmers met the requirements for total coliforms of <200/g set by the South African Department of Health at the time of sampling. E. coli MPN values for irrigation water and vegetables were below the limit of detection. In addition, the farming practices of 73 farmers were assessed via a survey. The results revealed that more than 40% of farmers used microbiologically safe tap water for irrigation and that trained farmers have a significantly better understanding of the importance of production hygiene than untrained farmers. These results reiterate the importance of interventions that build capacity in the area of food safety and hygiene of small-scale farmers for market access of formal value chains.

Collective livestock research for sustainable disease management in Mali and Burkina Faso

An international multi-disciplinary team of scientists, led by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), tackled the problem of bovine trypanosomosis and the development of drug resistance in West Africa, inter alia, by the promotion of rational drug use (RDU) principles. These principles had been brought to farmers by practical training and by the provision of information leaflets. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of RDU training at smallholder level with respect to advances in farmers' knowledge and farm productivity before research outputs could be scaled up. Therefore, 508 cattle farmers attended a disease-specific knowledge test and provided information about farm production. Results show that farmers who participated in the training are more likely to identify signs and causes of the disease and to correctly administer drugs. Allocating scores to each question in the knowledge tests and scrutinizing the differences between trained and untrained farmers by matching procedures shows that participating farmers reach higher scores in all knowledge categories. Moreover, the acquisition of additional knowledge and the application of improved control strategies significantly increase farm performance. Additionally, an allocative effect was identified since trypanocide expenditures were saved by less expensive inputs.

Effectiveness of training offered by the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research to farmers: The case of Holetta, Melkassa and Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centres

The research and extension divisions of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research are responsible for transfer of technologies. There is a need to improve agricultural extension activities through training. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of farmers’ training in improving their knowledge and attitudes and to identify the factors influencing effectiveness of training in terms of improving knowledge and attitude of the participants. Equal numbers of respondents from each of the three research centers were selected for the study. Structured interview schedule and informal interview with key informants were used for collecting the essential quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and nonparametric tests; correlation and regression analyses. The output of the study indicate that training offered by the three research centers significantly improved knowledge of potato, onion and durum wheat extension packages, attitude of farmers and level of practice of farmers compared to those of untrained sample farmers. The most important factors that significantly influenced knowledge of potato, onion and durum wheat extension packages were level of aspiration, education of farmers, information seeking behavior and extension contact. Similarly, the major factors that significantly influenced attitude of trained farmers include level of aspiration and education of farmers. Key words: Onion, durum wheat, potato, extension package, farmers, training, effectiveness.