Adoption of improved maize technology in Eastern Kenya following a community based farmer training project. Maize Productivity Gains through Research and Technology Dissemination

Abstract

A survey was conducted in March 1993 in Mtito Andei Location in semi-arid eastern Kenya to capture information on farmers' adoption of technology, their reaction to the improved maize seed and other technology demonstrated in a community project, their perception of constraints to its implementation and to evaluate the effectiveness of technology transfer by traditional methods. A random sample of 52 households was used for the study. Half of them had received improved maize seeds from a church-based community project in October 1992 following three seasons of a severe drought. Fifty-four percent of the farmers who received the improved maize varieties used them for the first time. Lack of information, insufficient cash, and non-availability of seeds in local shops were constraints to the prior use of improved varieties. After the introduction of the improved maize varieties, over 90% of the farmers who received the seeds continued to use them for planting. Use of fertilizer and other practices requiring purchased inputs that were demonstrated in the project were not widely adopted. Community based farmer training projects can play an important role in exposing farmers to improved technology especially in isolated areas where extension activities are limited.