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Effect of Extension Education on Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Sweet Potato Production Practices

Abstract

Sweet potato is an important food and cash crop that contributes to household food security, income generation, and agricultural diversification. However, farmers’ productivity may be affected by limited knowledge and application of improved production practices. Extension education provides farmers with relevant information, technical guidance, demonstrations, and practical skills that can improve their understanding and application of recommended sweet potato production techniques. Effective extension education may therefore play an important role in promoting the adoption of improved production practices among sweet potato farmers. This study will examine the effect of extension education on farmers’ adoption of improved sweet potato production practices. It will assess the level of farmers’ exposure to extension education and determine the extent to which farmers apply recommended production practices. The study will also examine the relationship between extension education and farmers’ adoption of improved sweet potato production practices. The study will focus on extension training, farm demonstrations, advisory visits, improved planting materials, land preparation, appropriate planting methods, recommended spacing, fertilizer application, weed management, pest and disease management, irrigation and moisture conservation, harvesting, sorting, and storage practices. It will also consider farmers’ access to extension information, frequency of extension contact, participation in agricultural training programmes, and practical knowledge gained through extension education. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from sweet potato farmers using structured questionnaires designed to obtain information on their exposure to extension education and adoption of improved production practices. The data will be analysed using descriptive statistics, adoption level assessment, correlation analysis, and regression analysis to determine the relationship between extension education and farmers’ adoption of improved sweet potato production practices. The study is expected to reveal that farmers who receive regular and relevant extension education may demonstrate greater knowledge and adoption of improved sweet potato production practices. Exposure to practical demonstrations, technical training, advisory services, and improved agricultural information may contribute to better application of recommended production methods. The study may also identify challenges such as inadequate extension contact, limited access to improved planting materials, insufficient training opportunities, and resource constraints that may affect adoption. The study will be useful to sweet potato farmers, agricultural extension agents, agricultural development agencies, research institutions, policymakers, non-governmental organisations, and other stakeholders involved in agricultural development. It may provide useful information on the role of extension education in improving farmers’ knowledge and adoption of recommended sweet potato production practices. The findings may also assist extension organisations in designing practical and farmer-oriented educational programmes. The study concludes that extension education is an important component of promoting farmers’ adoption of improved sweet potato production practices. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension agencies strengthen farmer training, demonstration activities, advisory visits, and access to relevant production information. Extension programmes should also support farmers’ access to improved planting materials and practical technologies to encourage wider adoption of improved sweet potato production practices and enhance farm productivity.

Keywords: Extension education, farmers’ adoption, sweet potato production, improved production practices, sweet potato farmers, agricultural extension, extension training, farm demonstrations, planting materials, crop management, fertilizer application, pest management, weed management, agricultural productivity, farmer education.