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Effect of Extension Services on Farmers’ Adoption of Produce Tracking Technologies

Abstract

The study examines the effect of extension services on farmers’ adoption of produce tracking technologies. Produce tracking technologies provide farmers with tools for monitoring the movement, handling, identification, and distribution of agricultural produce from the farm to different points within the supply chain. The adoption of such technologies can improve traceability, record keeping, quality management, accountability, and market coordination. Extension services can support farmers by providing relevant information, technical guidance, demonstrations, and training on the appropriate use of these technologies. The study will assess the nature and extent of extension services available to farmers in relation to produce tracking technologies. It will specifically examine farmers’ access to extension information, training, demonstrations, advisory visits, and technical support, as well as the level of farmers’ adoption of technologies used for tracking agricultural produce. The study will also identify the major factors and constraints influencing farmers’ adoption of produce tracking technologies. A descriptive survey research design will be adopted for the study. The population will comprise farmers in the selected study area, from whom respondents will be selected using an appropriate sampling procedure. Data will be collected through structured questionnaires designed to obtain information on farmers’ access to extension services, awareness, knowledge, and adoption of produce tracking technologies. The data collected will be analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviation, while appropriate inferential statistical techniques will be used to determine the effect of extension services on farmers’ adoption. The study is expected to reveal that farmers with greater access to extension services will demonstrate higher levels of adoption of produce tracking technologies. Extension training, practical demonstrations, farm visits, advisory services, and technology-related information are expected to improve farmers’ understanding and willingness to use tracking tools. However, inadequate extension coverage, limited digital skills, high cost of technology, poor access to technological facilities, and insufficient technical support may constrain adoption among some farmers. The findings will provide useful information to agricultural extension personnel, policymakers, agricultural development agencies, technology providers, farmers’ organizations, and other stakeholders involved in agricultural value-chain development. The study is expected to demonstrate the importance of strengthening extension programmes that focus on digital agricultural technologies, produce traceability, record keeping, and supply-chain management. Improved extension support may enable farmers to monitor produce more effectively, improve documentation, reduce losses, and strengthen their access to organized agricultural markets. The study will conclude that effective extension services can contribute significantly to farmers’ adoption of produce tracking technologies. It will recommend increased extension training, practical demonstrations, regular advisory visits, digital literacy programmes, and improved access to affordable tracking technologies. Strengthening extension support is expected to improve farmers’ capacity to monitor and document agricultural produce, thereby contributing to better traceability, accountability, quality management, and efficiency within agricultural marketing systems.

Keywords: Agricultural extension, extension services, farmers, produce tracking technologies, technology adoption, agricultural produce, traceability, digital agriculture, supply chain, farm records, produce monitoring, digital technology, agricultural marketing, value chain, technology utilization.