Purpose:The study aimed at
assessing the extension staff farm visits frequency effect on greenhouse technology performance in small scale farms in Gusii
Highlands, Kenya. Research Methodology:The study employed a survey research design. The target population for the
study was 1000 farmers practising greenhouse technology in Gusii Highlands
(Kisii and Nyamira Counties). Purposive and multi-stage sampling techniques
were used to sample 276 respondents from the target population. Primary data
were collected using questionnaires and key informant interviews. Data was
analysed using Microsoft excel and SPSS software. Regression analysis was conducted
to determine the relationship between extension staff farm visit frequency and
greenhouse technology performance. Findings: The study found out that extension
staff farm visit frequency had a significant effect on technology performance
(t-value of 7.066 and significance level 0.000) that is, there was a positive
relationship between extension staff visit frequency and greenhouse technology
performance, with an increase of extension staff farm visit by one resulted in
an increased performance in tomato production by 305.97 kg. Practical Implications: There is need for extension support in terms of staff capacity building,
mobility and employment to improve farmer coverage staff: farmer. Other identified constraints facing smallholder farmers investing in the technology like
soil sampling and analysis, irrigation and water management, need to be
addressed if green house technology performance is to be improved. Originality:
The article presents actual data collected from famers in Gusii Highlands.
Assessing the extension staff farm visits frequency effect on greenhouse technology performance in small scale farms in the Gusii
Highlands.
Cite this paper
Omoro, P. A. , Shitandi, A. , Aming’a, N. N. and Basweti, E. (2015). Assessing the Extension Staff Farm Visits Frequency Effect on Greenhouse Technology Performance in Small Scale Farms in Gusii Highlands, Kenya. Open Access Library Journal, 2, e1135. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1101135.
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