Agricultural Extension in Sub-Saharan Africa During and After Its Colonial Era: The Case of Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Kenya

Abstract

Agricultural extension services the world over have been instrumental in ensuring agriculturists stay abreast of new developments to improve their productivity and economic livelihoods. This historical study describes the origin and practice of agricultural extension in the former British colonies of Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Kenya before their independence and during the decades afterward, and identifies some of the challenges impacting extension services in these countries. Over time, in a bid to improve their agricultural sectors, these countries employed a number of approaches to providing extension/advisory services. Some methods, however, were coercive and little more than the enforcement of laws and customs prejudicial to the nations' Black farmers. This often resulted in cruel treatment, exploitation, and oppression of these farmers, especially during the colonial era. In the post-colonial era, no single approach to extension delivery has been without shortcomings (Davis, 2008). To that end, a pluralistic paradigm has shown promise in mitigating the limitations of any single approach. Additional research should be conducted to determine the longstanding impact of using chiefs and other law enforcers as extension agents on individuals' present-day perceptions about extension and its potential for meeting the needs of smallholder, resource-poor farmers in the future.

Impact of ICT Based Extension Services on Dairy Production and Household Welfare: The Case of iCow Service in Kenya

“…Effective delivery of services is seen as 'essential if small farms in high potential areas are to intensify production, contribute to economic growth, and reduce poverty' (Milu & Jayne, 2006). Agricultural extension is one of the services that play an essential role in the growth and transformation of the agrarian sector in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), Kenya included (Joseph & Polytechn, 2017;Mukembo & Edwards, 2016). Indeed, benefits like high productivity, quality of produce, reduction of diseases and pests, and subsequent increase in income among smallholder farmers can be attributed to access to quality extension service (Fu & Akter, 2012).…”

“…The system failed to inspire a wider uptake of techniques, and this led to introduction of the Farming Systems Research (FSR) in the 1970s. FSR focused on on-farm testing and refining of technologies but also could not adequately address the multiple and often diverse needs of farmers (Mukembo & Edwards, 2016).…”

“…The FFS uses participatory methods in enhancing farmers' knowledge and skills on the use of agricultural technologies. While the technique somehow improved the productivity of farmers, the approach did not fully meet their diverse needs (Mukembo & Edwards, 2016).…”

The Agricultural Extension Agents Influence on the Uptake of Improved Sorghum Technologies in Embu County, Kenya

“…In addition to agents ability of agents to disseminate technologies across various value chains, Mukembo and Edwards, [10] asserted that extension models play complimentary roles in enhancing technology transfer. Moreover, Mukembo and Edwards, [10] documented that extension models include, educational institution based agricultural extension model, project based extension model, farming systems research extension model, the cost sharing extension model, information communication integrated and the participatory extension model.…”

“…In addition to agents ability of agents to disseminate technologies across various value chains, Mukembo and Edwards, [10] asserted that extension models play complimentary roles in enhancing technology transfer. Moreover, Mukembo and Edwards, [10] documented that extension models include, educational institution based agricultural extension model, project based extension model, farming systems research extension model, the cost sharing extension model, information communication integrated and the participatory extension model. For instance in Kenya, the agricultural extension models guided by various techniques and avenues such as ASK shows in Kenya, farm demonstrations, government and private public field days, farmer to farmer chats, radio services, mobile phone technologies and computer based technologies enhance rapid adoption rates among farmers Mwadalu and Mwangi, [11].According to Doss, [12] the choice of extension model in Kenya by agents is dictated by factors such as availability of the of the farmer, availability of relevant institutional support and resources, suitability of methods or techniques, target and supportive, monitoring and evaluation of extension services.…”