Assessments of the Current Agricultural Extension Systems and Recommended for Interventions in Gurage Zone Ethiopia

Abstract

This paper anticipated to identifying the existing extension systems, problem unhindered and recommends the interventions which contribute to improve or enhance the extension systems in the study area. From a total of twelve districts in Gurage zone the study covers agro ecologically classified seven districts with a total of twelve villages. FGD (Focus group discussion), key informant, DAs(Development agent), university lecturers and concerned bodies were participated to generate these valuable findings.  In Gurage Zone a total of 1070 multidisciplinary professionals extension workers were working with 408 FTCs (Farmers training center) to deliver extension service for a total of 236929 smallholders farmers. Regardless of the significance of FTCs in the provision of extension service, it was observed that they are not functioning at full capacity to deliver the expected service due to a number of constraints such as professional turnover, awareness problem, budget shortage and weak monitoring system, information and skill gap. Our study underline that based on group discussion, personal observation and key informant question confirmed that all FTCs are not actively involved with full capacity and also all smallholder farmers do not participated training which was conducted in FTCs. Our survey results showed that there are a number of constraints affecting the performance of the extension service in the study area major extension and socioeconomic focus have been considered as the constraints which were identified in Gurage zone for possible research and development interventions which are likely to improve smallholder farmers production and productivity.

Keywords:Agricultural Extension, Intervention

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-1-01

Publication date: January 31^st 2022