| dc.description.abstract | The study seeks to establish the effect of the National
Agriculture and Livestock Extension Program (NALEP) phase I
interventions towards improving farm output in Kirinyaga
District. Two focal areas, Nduini, Rwaithanga and their adjacent
non-focal areas were considered for the study.
The study sample consisted of 120 randomly selected households
from within and outside the focal area. Those within the focal
area had been exposed to the NALEP lnterventlons and those
outside had not. Semi- structured questionnaires were
administered to gather primary data. Discussions with the
extension agents were also used to gather additional information
about the program in general.
Data on maize and banana production for the year 2003 was
collected from farmers who are within the focal area (NALEP
Extension strategy) and also from those outside the focal areas.
Gross margins for the selected crops, maize and bananas, in the
two groups were computed and compared.
It is evident from the survey results that the NALEP extension
program achieved reasonable improvement on banana gross margins
(Ksh 46,488) in the focal area compared with (Ksh 23,232) out
x
side the focal area. The results support the policy of the farmeroriented
extension service designed to meet the needs and
demands of the small-scale farming population. However for maize
gross margins (Ksh 5,930 and Ksh 4,296) within and outside the
focal area respectively, the program has not yet achieved a
significant effect in the study area as farmers continue to
achieve negative gross margins. The effectiveness of the
extension program interventions on maize production should be
imp-roved. The NALEP extension strategy and the link to the
appropriate extension stakeholders such as the credits or money
lending institutions should be fully enhanced. This would help
to address the problems encountered by many farmers especially
in maize production. | en |
