| dc.description.abstract | A lot of research has been done on the methods that are used to disseminate agricultural information to farmers. However, very little research has been done on the various methods that are currently being used to disseminate and share information and identity the most effective one. The main purpose of the study was to look into the various methods that are being used to disseminate information on agriculture to small holder farmers in Kandara and identity the most efficient and effective one. The research established that farmers consider information on agriculture very important during the agricultural production cycle.
Face to face communication is the most preferred method and mainly happens through extension officers who visit farms and participate in farmer field days, and through input dealers who participate in farmer field days and agricultural shows. Farmers also share information on agriculture among themselves when they meet. They listen to radio programmes on agriculture. They are constrained on the use of some media such as newspapers, internet and television. Illiteracy, the cost factor and lack of infrastructure such as electricity stand in between farmers and these sources of information.
This study therefore recommends that the most preferred sources of information namely face to face discussions, radio and extension officers should be enhanced and integrated with unpopular methods of communication which are equally useful to farmers such as the mobile phone which . is widely used for communication but its use as a source of information for farmers has not been explored. | en_US |
