Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi

Three aspects of the productivity of Kenya Government agricultural extension services in Western Province are examined: (1) the degree to which farmer contact extension agents are well versed in the technical information they are expected to convey; (2) the extent to which standard national cultural recommendations are being adapted to local ecological conditions; and (3) the amount of effort that junior staff are putting into their basic work of visiting farmers- Personnel policies and organizational strategies which would improve performance in each of these areas are discussed. Along with other lesser reforms, proposals are made for the creation of a mobile, national junior staff retraining service, for a rigorous system of inspecting extension agent work by an increased reliance on group extension methods, and for the removal of inter-cadre promotion bars so as to provide meaningful work incentives. It is suggested that the various reforms taken together might double the productivity of Kenya's agricultural extension workers.