Factors Affecting Maize Farmers ’ Participation In Agricultural Extension Education In Turkana County , Kenya

Agriculture is an important sector in the economic development and poverty alleviation drive of many countries. The role which agriculture has played in the industrial growth and development of most of the industrialized countries in the world cannot be over emphasized. The importance of this sector is more pronounced in the developing countries including Kenya where it is the main thrust of national survival, employment and food (Muhammad, 2009). Agriculture in Kenya is the way of life of the rural people. Despite its declining importance as a contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP), agriculture still represents an important input to the national economy and to rural livelihoods in Kenya (Ephrem 2009,). Kenya’s economy is heavily dependent on the agricultural sector that also provides the basis for the development of the other sectors (Republic of Kenya, 2002). Its direct contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is 25% and indirectly contributes a further 27% through linkages with agro-based and associated industries (KARI, 2002). The sector employs about 75% of the total labour force, generates 60% of export earnings, and provides 75% of industrial raw materials and 45% of Government revenue (KARI, 2002). About 80% of Kenya’s population live in the rural areas and are engaged in agricultural activities including maize farming. Maize farmers’ participation in these programmes is a crucial tool to bring voluntary behaviour change. Their contribution in programme planning, implementation and evaluation process has remained very low in most parts of the country in general and in the study region in particular (Rola, 2001). None of the studies reviewed has tried to show the factors that are impeding maize farmers’ active participation in the training programmes in Turkana. Belay (2002) points out that the maize farmers make a very marginal contribution in designing and formulating extension activities. He also notes that neither the maize farmers nor the frontline extension agents are consulted in the course of policy formulation. Thus, this study was expected to investigate the extent to which maize farmers participate in the development of the training programmes and the major factors influencing their active participation in extension educational programmes in Turkana County. Abstract: The main objective of this research was to investigate the major factors influencing maize farmers’ contribution in the agricultural extension education programmes in Turkana County. Data was collected by the use of questionnaire, and semi-structured interview. To select the respondent groups, simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used. Frequencies, percentages and means, were used as statistical tools to analyze the data. Findings indicated that about three quarters 42(76.4%) of the farmers had ever attended agricultural extension education programme. All the farmers in Turkana County are barely involved in the planning process of the training programme. Since participation in the agricultural extension-training programme was low in Turkana County, the Government should set-up training centres close to farmers as a way of encouraging improve participation.