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Effect of Agricultural Extension Services on Farmers’ Adoption of Peri-Urban Farming Practices

Abstract

Peri-urban farming involves agricultural activities carried out in areas located around towns and cities and can contribute to food supply, income generation, employment, and access to fresh agricultural products. However, peri-urban farmers often operate under conditions involving limited land availability, competition for land, changing land-use patterns, environmental pressures, and limited access to agricultural information. Agricultural extension services can provide farmers with technical knowledge and advisory support needed to adopt appropriate practices for productive and sustainable peri-urban farming. This study will examine the effect of agricultural extension services on farmers’ adoption of peri-urban farming practices. It will assess the extent to which extension services influence farmers’ knowledge and use of recommended farming practices within peri-urban environments. The study will also examine the contribution of extension visits, training programmes, demonstrations, advisory information, and technical support to farmers’ adoption of suitable peri-urban farming practices. The study will focus on agricultural extension services, peri-urban farming, farmers’ knowledge, land-use practices, intensive crop production, soil management, water management, waste utilization, crop diversification, input management, environmental management, farm planning, market-oriented production, extension contact, and adoption of peri-urban farming practices. It will also assess farmers’ sources of agricultural information and identify the major challenges that may affect their adoption of recommended practices in peri-urban areas. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from peri-urban farmers using structured questionnaires designed to obtain information on their exposure to agricultural extension services, knowledge of peri-urban farming practices, and level of adoption. The collected data will be analysed using descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, percentages, mean scores, correlation analysis, and regression analysis to determine the effect of agricultural extension services on farmers’ adoption of peri-urban farming practices. The study is expected to reveal that agricultural extension services may have a significant effect on farmers’ adoption of peri-urban farming practices. Farmers who receive regular extension information, training, demonstrations, and technical guidance may demonstrate greater adoption of improved soil and water management, efficient input use, crop diversification, waste utilization, and other practices suitable for peri-urban production. Adoption may also vary according to farmers’ access to extension services, availability of farmland, access to production inputs, farming experience, and proximity to agricultural markets. The study will be useful to peri-urban farmers, agricultural extension agents, urban and regional planning authorities, agricultural cooperatives, government agricultural agencies, development organisations, environmental agencies, policymakers, and agricultural researchers. It may provide useful information for strengthening extension programmes that address the specific needs and challenges of peri-urban farmers. The findings may also assist stakeholders in developing practical advisory services that promote productive, efficient, and environmentally responsible farming practices around urban communities. The study concludes that agricultural extension services can contribute to improved adoption of peri-urban farming practices by increasing farmers’ knowledge, technical skills, and access to relevant agricultural information. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension agencies strengthen advisory visits, demonstrations, farmer training, and information dissemination specifically for peri-urban farming communities. Farmers should also be encouraged to adopt appropriate land, soil, water, input, and environmental management practices to improve productivity and support sustainable agricultural production in peri-urban areas.

Keywords: Agricultural extension services, farmers, peri-urban farming, urban agriculture, extension education, farming practices, soil management, water management, land-use practices, crop diversification, input management, environmental management, farm planning, agricultural productivity, peri-urban agriculture.