A Comparative Analysis of the Effects of the Agricultural Extension Services among Small-Scale Farmers in Mpulungu District, Zambia
Abstract
In agriculture-oriented economies worldwide, agricultural extension services are influential in the crop productivity of small-scale farmers. In Zambia, despite the provision of extension services to small-scale farmers, some small-scale farmers have not felt their effects. Therefore, this study conducted a comparative analysis of the effects of the agricultural extension services on maize crop productivity of the 147 food security pack beneficiary households and 152 non-beneficiary households using a mixed methods design in the Mpulungu district of Zambia. The results revealed that the food security pack beneficiary and non-beneficiary households knew the extension services provided in the Mpulungu district. However, the extension workers concentrated more on the food security pack beneficiary households than the non-beneficiary households in the provision of extension services because they wanted the programme to succeed. The majority of the non-beneficiary households did not fully benefit from the agricultural extension services provided in Mpulungu district. The programme beneficiary households recorded higher maize crop productivity than the non-beneficiaries suggesting that the extension services had a positive effect. Challenges such as inadequate extension workers, lack of refresher training for extension workers and loss of trust in the extension system affected both groups. However, these challenges affected the non-beneficiary households more than the food security pack beneficiary households. The study concludes that extension services contribute to agricultural crop productivity. Therefore, the study recommends improvement in extension staffing levels, administrative support, in-service refresher training and capacity building of the extension workers. Also, the implementation of a universal extension service targeting strategy for small-scale farmers is recommended.
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