Influence of Farmer Field Days in Communicating Agricultural Research Information at the Mwea Irrigation Agricultural Development (Miad) Centre: a Case of Topshot Herbicide

Abstract

The objective of the study was to examine the influence of farmer field days (FFDs) in communicating agricultural research information at the Mwea Irrigation Agricultural Development (MIAD) Centre, in a case study of Topshot Herbicide. Three specific objectives guided the study; to explore the effects of farmer field days on knowledge of Topshot Herbicide among rice farmers at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme; to determine the influence of farmer field days on attitudes towards Topshot Herbicide among rice farmers at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme; to establish the influence of farmer field days on adoption of Topshot Herbicide among rice farmers at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme. The study was based on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory. A descriptive research design was adopted targeting 524 rice farmers who participated in the Topshot Herbicide Farmer Field Day, from which a sample size of 157 respondents was generated. Simple random sampling was used to select respondents for the final sample of 117 respondents. Questionnaires, interview guides, and document analysis were the methods used to collect data. A pilot study was conducted among 15 respondents to establish the reliability and validity of the instrument. Cronbach Alpha was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. The data was analyzed using SPSS and consisted of descriptive statistics (mean, frequencies and percentages) for the quantitative data whilst thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. The study concludes that participation in FFDs resulted to knowledge of Topshot Herbicide, led to positive attitudes towards Topshot Herbicide, and increased adoption of Topshot Herbicide. The study recommends that FFDs should be used more to promote adoption of emerging agricultural innovations as they complement the sharing of information which is often done by extension officers, who are few compared to the large numbers of farmers. Through FFDs, farmers can themselves become extension agents in their locality and communicate agricultural information to other farmers through peer to peer interactions. FFDs should be used regularly especially in cases where new agricultural technology is being introduced for the first time, in order to facilitate immediate feedback, as well as give room for adjustments depending on what the farmers think is working for them and what is not working. Tailor-making FFDs according to the age, language, perception and education level of the farmers being targeted is instrumental to achieving successful results as a one-size-fit-all FFD may not have the same outcome in one location as it had in anothe