Major problems which hinder the adoption of agricultural innovations by farmers as perceived by state extension directors and county agent association presidents
| dc.contributor.author | Mannento, Joas Elinazi | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-12-04T11:57:19Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-12-04T11:57:19Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1980 | |
| dc.description | Masters' Theses | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study was conducted with the prime objective of determining major problems constraining adoption of new agricultural practices by farmers as perceived by state directors of CES and presidents of CEAA. The method used was the Delphi technique which involved eliciting expert opinions from the study population through administration of two instruments to participants. Opinions reported were the consensus of the total population. Data were processed through the West Virginia University Computer Center and means and standard deviations were determined for each statement. Group means and standard deviations were also determined for positions and regions. There was no need for inferential statistics as perceptions of the total population were studied. Economic Factors 1. Participants viewed problems connected with interest rates which affect long-term investment, cost-price squeeze which relates to inflation, costs of land and equipment, energy costs, and pressure on land use in highly populated areas, as outstanding economic factors. Aspects related to credit and debt, aside from interest rates and those dealing with economic uncertainty, were considered serious as well by respondents. 2. Strong agreement was noted between directors and presidents concerning economic factors hampering new farming practices. A notable difference, however, was found in the statement "farmers lack understanding of credit use," which was more seriously viewed by directors than presidents. 3. Regional variations, which may be attributed to geo- physical position, climatic conditions and enterprise variations, were observed. Credit and debt related factors were considered relatively more serious by southern and western respondents than by north central and northeastern participants. Cost-price squeeze factors related to land costs and value in highly populated areas were rated highest by northeastern and western participants and lowest by those in the north central region. Urban pressure by expanding metropolitan areas in these regions could be postulated as the contributory factor. Infrastructure related problems were rated somewhat higher by southern respondents than by north central respondents. Technical and Managerial Factors 1. Inadequacy of farm records was singled out by participants as the outstanding problem. Availability of skilled labor and manage- ment skills of farmers were also perceived as major bottlenecks toward adoption of new agricultural practices. Transportation of farm inputs and produce were as well viewed as acute problems by respondents 2. Participants also considered those problems connected with farmers being locked into enterprises due to loans or equipment, difficulties in fitting new technologies into existing operations, farm size, and influence of weather in farming, as major concerns affecting adoption of innovations. 3. Directors and presidents agreed strongly in all statements except three. These statements included management skills, trans portation facilities and progressive farmers preceding research recommendations. 4. rated. Regional variations were observed in all statements Part-time farming was considered more serious by western region participants and a lesser concern by participants in the north central region. Other statements which showed considerable differences included those related to labor, transport, farm size, weather, and farming as a hobby. Factors related to farm size and farming as a hobby were rated highest by western region participants and lowest by north central respondents. Transportation of farm inputs and produce was viewed as a more serious problem by north central respondents than by northeastern and western region respondents. Social Factors 1. Farmers’ behavior and attitudes toward change were considered by respondents to be the most outstanding social problems constraining adoption of new practices.The conservative farmer was perceived to be the foremost problem.Tradition and lack of confidence in making innovations succeed were other factors considered major problems. 2. Directors and presidents strongly agreed on social factors constraining new agricultural practices except with problems related to age and education of fanners. Presidents considered age of farmers relatively more serious than did directors while the problem related to educational level of farms was weighted higher by directors than presidents. 3. Regional variations, which may be assumed to emanate from cultural heritage, tradition and environmental exposure, were observed. Three out of the nine statements showed considerable variations among regions. These statements included those related to lack of profit oriented goals which was rated highest by northeast region respondents and lowest by western participants; and age of farmers which was viewed as least important by north central respondents. Educational level of farmers was rated considerably higher by southern region participants than by those from north central region. Informational Factors 1. Lack of extension and research personnel, time and support to show farmers how new practices work was considered by participants the most serious problem connected with informational factors. A segmented rather than a systems approach, insufficient research, and lack of personalized assistance were other informational problems noted by participants. 2. Directors and presidents strongly agreed that lack of research and extension staff, time and support was the informational problem of major concern. 3. Regional differences were noted in several informational factors constraining new agricultural practices. Inadequate result demonstration and field days was rated more serious by northeast and southern participants than by those in the north central and western regions. Considerable differences were also noted among regions on statements related to lack of faith in research and extension systems, psychological approach by change agents, and communication of innovations by extension personnel. Political Factors 1. Political factors which influence the adoption of new agricultural practices by farmers were considered serious impediments by participants. Government interference and regulation was singled out as the most serious problem. Condition of the national economy was also considered a major constraining factor. 2. Directors and presidents strongly agreed on the seriousness of political factors hampering adoption of new agricultural practices. However, presidents rated the statements related to government interference, world situation, zoning, and land taxation higher than did directors. 3. Regional differences concerning influence of political factors affecting adoption of new farming practices were noted. Increasing land taxation was rated serious by all except north central participants. Zoning was considered an acute problem by participants in northeastern and western regions, whereas north central and southern respondents were Iqss concerned. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7156 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Agricultural innovations | |
| dc.subject | Farmers | |
| dc.subject | State extension directors | |
| dc.subject | County agent association presidents | |
| dc.title | Major problems which hinder the adoption of agricultural innovations by farmers as perceived by state extension directors and county agent association presidents | |
| dc.type | Thesis |