Extension Officers' Requirements in an artificial Intelligent System for Diagnosis of Maize Disease, Kenya

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the most frequently used agricultural diagnostic information source by extension officers, the content of information which both the extension officer would like to receive for full satisfaction on diagnostics, the formats and form the extension officers would like to receive the information and the ICT tools, channels and features which extension offers have high self- efficiency with for the development an ideal artificial intelligent system. the study was conducted in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya where the population targeted was extension officers within the county. The research design was a case study in Uasin Gishu County and a case of maize diagnostics, which formed the representative area and crop for Kenya farmers, respectively. All extension officers were interviewed and data obtained analyzed using SPSS. The study revealed that extension officers gathered information mostly from seminars conducted by the government; they were interested in accessing full information on diseases and pests including their scientific and common names, symptoms, management options and prescriptions. Thus, a system was to be developed that would require an administrator to search, collect and input diagnostic information on new diseases and pests in to the system. The information accessed by the extension officers in relation to disease diagnostics is to be included in the actual system development. The final content of information given to the extension officers by the system must be in a printable format and must be accessed through webpage and internet based application.