| dc.description.abstract | This study sought to assess the effects of information and communication on the use of organic
resource inputs in the Central Highlands of Kenya. To achieve this purpose, the study set out to
identify the available sources of information and innovations on organic resources by farmers,
determine whether farmers‟ socio-economic status influence communication processes and
information access regarding the adoption of the inputs, investigate the effects of community
groups and associations on the communication and adoption of these inputs, and assess the
effects of communication on the their uptake. The study used phenomenology qualitative
research and participatory research designs. Two sub-counties from two different counties in the
region were purposively selected. Stratified random sampling was then used to select two
villages from each sub-county. Thirty farmers, 15 from each sub-county, were randomly
selected as respondents of the study. Interview schedules and Participatory Rural Appraisal
(PRA) tools were used to collect data. The collected data were analysed qualitatively. The key
findings of the study revealed that information and communication have significantly improved
farmers‟ knowledge on animal manure, organic and inorganic fertilisers and crop rotation and
scaled up the use of animal manure, organic and inorganic fertilisers, and crop rotation by
farmers. Additionally, the study established that farmer‟s age, income, education level and
gender influence information access of organic resource inputs and their subsequent uptake. The
study also found out that government extension staff and vernacular radio are the most available
and preferred sources of organic resource inputs by farmers. The study recommends that
researchers should consider how extension agents can be made more useful in dissemination of
information about organic resource inputs since they are one of the main sources of this kind of
information. | en_US |
