ISSN 2756-3642
International Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development ISSN 3254-5428 Vol. 6 (2), pp. 594-602, February, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Socio-economic factors influencing farmers’ perception on effectiveness of decentralized agricultural extension information and services delivery in Arumeru District, Tanzania
Noel C.Komba1, Malongo R.S. Mlozi2, Zebedayo S.K.Mvena2
1Department of Business Support Services, Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency. P.O BOX 11042 Dodoma, Tanzania
2Department of Agricultural Extension and Community Development, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O BOX 3000, Morogoro, Tanzania.
Accepted 23 January, 2018
Abstract
This study examined socio-economic factors influencing farmers’ perception on the effectiveness of agricultural extension information and service delivery during the D by D policy. A cross-sectional research design was used to collect data from 390 respondents using semi-structured questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed through Binary logistic regression with eleven explanatory variables fitted in the model. The study revealed that, of the eleven socio-economic variables tested only sex and farm size were found to be statistically significant with a beta coefficient of -.390 and .11 respectively. Based on sex, this confirms that, female farmers in the study area were less likely than male farmers of perceiving agricultural extension information and service delivery as effective during the implementation of D by D policy. The study findings showed further that, farmers with large farm size were more likely, than did those with small farms, of perceiving the effectiveness of agricultural extension information and service delivery during the implementation of D by D policy size. The two councils should recruit more female extension staff and advice farmers to join cooperative societies so as to enhance effectiveness of the policy.
Keywords: Socio-economic, agricultural extension, information, services, decentralization, devolution, policy.