Diffusion and adoption of farm technologies among resource-limited farmers: experiences from the ICIPE/UNECA Integrated Pest Management Project in Western

Abstract

The ICIPE/UNECA pilot IPM project was implemented in the Oyugis and Kendu Bay areas ofwestern Kenya during 1987 - 1992. One of its objectives was diffusion of proven IPM technologies from farmers participating in the projectto their non-participating neighbours. A survey of 98 non-participating farmers aimed at finding out whether they had adopted any of the IPM technology components that were being implemented by the project farmers was completed in 1992. Whereas nearly two-thirds of the farmers were aware of ICIPE's research work in the project sites, only 30% in Oyugis and 16.7% in Kendu Bay had adopted some IPM technology component. Those farmers adopting components tended to have had contact with the project's technicians and extension workers, and had also visited the IPM crop trials.