Influence of Technology Transfer Methods and Extension Worker Characteristics on Sustainability of Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

Urban and Peri urban agriculture contributes substantially to food and nutritional security to approximately 60 percent of Nairobi residents directly or indirectly. The current study was necessitated by the emerging and dynamic challenges affecting the sustainability of urban and peri urban agriculture such as the competition of resources, inadequate policies and a declining extension system. The purpose of the study was to gather information and provide an understanding on the influence of technology transfer methods and extension worker characteristics on the empowerment of farmers for sustainability of urban and peri urban agriculture. The study utilised a cross-sectional survey method and used questionnaires to collect data. The study sampled 149 farmers and 64 extension workers. Descriptive and Multiple Linear Regressions were used to analyse data. The characteristics of urban and peri-urban farmers indicated that most farmers (58.4 percent) were male, 30.2 percent middle aged between 41-50 years, having over secondary education and over 15 years of farming experience. Analysis of farmer resources indicated that 42 percent of the farmers farmed on less than 0.5 acres while 30 percent did not own the land they farmed on. Water for irrigation was not adequate and most farmers had no access to credit. The characteristics of extension staff indicated most workers were female with over 50 years of age, well-educated most had a first degree and above. The extension staff had inadequate knowledge on adult learning principles which affected their choice of technology transfer methods for empowerment of farmers. The use of mobile phones and internet (ICT) was found to consider most of the adult learning principles but it was not a popular technology transfer method. The influence of technology transfer methods on the sustainability of urban and peri urban agriculture indicated that ICT, farm visits, office visits, trainings and demonstrations and field days had a positive and significant (P<.05) influence on the sustainability of urban and peri urban agriculture. Extension worker characteristics of age, gender, educational levels and work experiences were found to positively and significantly influence the empowerment of the urban and peri urban farmers. The study concluded that the choice of technology transfer methods and extension worker characteristics influenced empowerment and sustainability of urban and peri urban agriculture. The study recommended empowerment of extension workers on the adult learning principles for farmer empowerment and the transformation of the extension system to a more “integrated digitized and individualized method.” The Institutionalization of the extension system is recommended for further research.