| dc.description.abstract | Agricultural sector forms the backbone of the global economy and serves as the means of
revenue of about 50% of the world’s population and Kenya is not an exception. In this
regard Agriculture has been prioritized vision 2030, which aims at transforming Kenya to
a middle income and rapidly industrializing country by the year 2030. This study sought
to establish the communication channels used by watermelon farmers in Yimbo East
Ward to access Agricultural information, the impact of the Agricultural information and
challenges the farmers experience while trying to access the information. The target
population of the study was 30 farmers in the region but the researcher was able to access
25 who accounted for 83%. Data was collected through structured individual interviews
and observations were made during the farm visits. The data collected was analyzed
using narrative analysis and exploratory analysis to graphically summarise the situation
on the ground. The study found out that most of the watermelon farmer’s use radios,
fellow farmers and telephone calls to acquire agricultural information on watermelon
production while extension officers, television, mobile text messages, farm magazines
and newspapers were the channels which were least used. The study concluded that
radios, fellow farmers and telephone calls had numerous strengths hence were considered
more advantageous by farmers than the other channels. Further, extension officers and
radio were the two channels considered by many farmers in the study to have accurate
information. There is therefore need for to establish a community FM radio stations to
promote dissemination of information on watermelon production and knowledge to
farmers in the region because of numerous advantages of radio. Further, the watermelon
farmers required agricultural information on market prices, financial management and
methods of irrigation, use of insecticides and soil improvement. Positive impacts of the
information experienced by farmers were mainly high quality produce and early maturity.
On the other hand, the main negative impacts of the information received included lack
of follow-up process to stimulate the success, higher cost but lower productivity and low
selling price. Some of the challenges that farmers experience were mainly costs of
acquiring information and lack of feedback. Setting up of well-equipped community
resource centres would be a plus as the famers could access information at their leisure
and affordably. Farmers need to be engaged, persuaded and shown the benefits of variety
communication channels in watermelon production through farmers field days and
demonstrations in order for them to learn, ask questions and provide their own feedback
to the extension officers as well as researchers. Lastly, the study not only recommends
more agricultural extension officers in the region but facilitated with necessary
equipment and funds for them to remain relevant in terms of information and knowledge
delivery to the farmers. | en_US |
