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Effect of Extension Education on Farmers’ Adoption of Grasscutter Feeding Practices

Abstract

Grasscutter feeding involves the provision and management of appropriate feed materials to meet the nutritional requirements of grasscutters at different stages of growth and production. Proper feeding practices are important for supporting healthy growth, reproductive performance, disease resistance, and efficient production. Extension education can provide farmers with relevant information and practical skills on feed selection, preparation, storage, and administration, thereby supporting the adoption of appropriate grasscutter feeding practices. This study will examine the effect of extension education on farmers’ adoption of grasscutter feeding practices. The study will assess farmers’ exposure to extension education on grasscutter nutrition and determine how such education influences their adoption of recommended feeding practices. It will also examine the extent to which farmers apply the knowledge and skills acquired through extension education in managing the feeding of grasscutters. The study will focus on extension education, farmers’ knowledge of grasscutter nutrition, feed selection, forage utilization, feed preparation, feeding frequency, provision of clean drinking water, feed storage, dietary supplementation, and feeding management at different growth stages. It will also consider farmers’ participation in extension training, demonstrations, advisory visits, and other educational activities related to grasscutter feeding and nutrition. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from selected grasscutter farmers using structured questionnaires designed to obtain information on their exposure to extension education and adoption of grasscutter feeding practices. The data will be analysed using descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, percentages, mean scores, correlation analysis, and regression analysis to determine the relationship between extension education and farmers’ adoption of recommended feeding practices. The study is expected to reveal that extension education may have a positive effect on farmers’ adoption of appropriate grasscutter feeding practices. Farmers who receive regular and practical extension education may demonstrate greater adoption of suitable feed selection, preparation, feeding schedules, forage utilization, water provision, and feed storage practices. The study may also reveal that inadequate extension contact, limited knowledge of grasscutter nutrition, scarcity of suitable feed resources, and high feeding costs can constrain farmers’ adoption of improved feeding practices. The study will be useful to grasscutter farmers, agricultural extension agents, livestock development agencies, veterinary personnel, agricultural development organizations, policymakers, and researchers. It may provide useful information on the role of extension education in improving the feeding management of grasscutters. The findings may also assist relevant agencies in developing practical livestock extension programmes that improve farmers’ knowledge of nutrition and encourage the adoption of feeding practices that support healthy growth and productive performance. The study concludes that extension education is an important component of promoting farmers’ adoption of improved grasscutter feeding practices because appropriate education can enhance farmers’ nutritional knowledge and practical feeding skills. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension agencies strengthen regular training, demonstrations, and advisory services on feed selection, forage management, feed preparation, feeding frequency, supplementation, water provision, and feed storage to improve grasscutter productivity and support sustainable grasscutter production.

Keywords: Extension education, grasscutter farmers, grasscutter feeding, feeding practices, livestock extension, animal nutrition, forage utilization, feed management, feed preparation, feeding frequency, feed storage, dietary supplementation, agricultural extension, grasscutter production, livestock productivity.