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Effect of Extension Training on Farmers’ Knowledge of Economic Threshold Levels

Abstract

Economic threshold levels are important concepts in agricultural pest management because they help farmers determine when pest populations have reached a level at which control measures should be considered to prevent economic losses. Understanding economic thresholds can support timely and cost-effective pest management decisions and reduce unnecessary pesticide applications. Extension training can provide farmers with the technical knowledge required to identify pest populations, assess crop damage, and understand when pest control interventions are economically justified. This study will examine the effect of extension training on farmers’ knowledge of economic threshold levels. It will assess farmers’ exposure to extension training and determine how training influences their understanding of economic threshold concepts and their application in pest management decisions. The study will also identify areas where farmers may require additional education and practical guidance on the use of economic threshold levels. The study will focus on farmers’ knowledge of pest population levels, crop damage assessment, economic injury levels, economic thresholds, pest monitoring, field scouting, pest identification, crop growth stages, and factors influencing pest control decisions. Attention will also be given to extension training activities such as practical demonstrations, field scouting exercises, farmer meetings, workshops, farm visits, and distribution of pest management information. These activities may improve farmers’ ability to assess pest populations and determine appropriate intervention points. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from selected farmers using structured questionnaires, pest management scenarios, and knowledge assessment instruments. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations will be used to summarize farmers’ knowledge levels, while knowledge scores, correlation analysis, and regression analysis will be used to determine the relationship between extension training and farmers’ knowledge of economic threshold levels. The study is expected to reveal that farmers with greater exposure to extension training may demonstrate higher levels of knowledge of economic threshold levels. Training may improve farmers’ understanding of pest monitoring, economic injury levels, crop damage assessment, and the appropriate timing of pest control interventions. However, limited extension contact, inadequate practical demonstrations, difficulty in assessing pest populations, insufficient technical information, and reliance on routine pesticide application may contribute to knowledge gaps among farmers. The study will be useful to farmers, agricultural extension agents, crop protection specialists, entomologists, agricultural development agencies, researchers, government institutions, and non-governmental organizations. It may provide useful information on the contribution of extension training to farmers’ understanding of economic threshold levels and identify areas requiring additional technical support. The findings may also assist agricultural agencies in developing practical integrated pest management training programmes that improve farmers’ pest monitoring and decision-making skills. The study concludes that extension training can play an important role in improving farmers’ knowledge of economic threshold levels and supporting informed pest management decisions. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension agencies strengthen practical training on pest scouting, economic injury levels, crop damage assessment, and threshold-based pest control. Farmers should also be encouraged to monitor pest populations regularly and use reliable technical information when determining appropriate pest management interventions.

Keywords: Extension training, farmers’ knowledge, economic threshold levels, economic threshold, economic injury level, pest management, pest monitoring, pest scouting, crop protection, pest population, crop damage assessment, integrated pest management, agricultural extension, farmer training, sustainable agriculture.