Effectiveness of public agricultural extension as perceived by farmers and development agents in Soddo-Zuria of Wolaita zone, Ethopia

Abstract

The study examined farmers and development agents’ (DAs) perceived effectiveness of the Public Agricultural Extension Service (PAES) in Soddozuria Woreda, Southern Ethiopia. Hence, 225 farmers and 85 DAs were randomly selected; pretested and validated questionnaires were used; and data were analyzed using Software Package for Statistics and Simulation (SPSS). Farmers and DAs’ perceived effectiveness levels of the PAES were found to be low though the mean difference between the two groups was significant. Within the farmers, perceived effectiveness levels of female farmers, poor farmers, and uneducated farmers were significantly lower than their counterparts. From farmers’ response, relevance of extension packages, participation in extension, motivation by extension, educational status, wealth status, sex, DAs’ professional competence, and satisfaction with extension explained 84 percent of the variation in effectiveness of the PAES. From DAs’ response, relevance of extension packages, farmers’ participation in extension, research and Subject Matter Specialists (SMS) support, and DAs’ participation in extension explained 88 percent of the variation in effectiveness of the PAES. The findings imply that the Soddo-zuria Woreda Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development should play a critical co-ordinating role in developing relevant extension packages through functional links with research agencies and enhancing farmers’ participation; stratifying extension approaches based on sex, wealth and educational status of farmers; enhancing farmers’ motivation and satisfaction with extension; getting SMS support; improving DAs’ professional competence and participation in the PAES.