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Effect of Extension Education on Farmers’ Knowledge of Seed-Borne Disease Prevention

Abstract

Seed-borne diseases are important constraints to crop production because infected seeds can introduce disease-causing organisms into farms, reduce seed germination, weaken plant establishment, and contribute to the spread of diseases during the production season. Effective prevention of seed-borne diseases requires farmers to have adequate knowledge of seed health, disease transmission, seed treatment, proper storage, and the use of healthy planting materials. Agricultural extension education can provide farmers with the information and practical skills required to prevent seed-borne diseases and improve the quality of crop production. This study will examine the effect of extension education on farmers’ knowledge of seed-borne disease prevention. The study will assess farmers’ exposure to extension education and determine their level of knowledge regarding the identification, prevention, and management of seed-borne diseases. It will also examine areas of seed health management where farmers may require additional extension support. The study will focus on farmers’ knowledge of common seed-borne diseases, symptoms associated with infected seeds and seedlings, sources of seed infection, disease transmission, selection of healthy seeds, seed treatment methods, proper seed storage, sanitation practices, and the use of certified or disease-free planting materials. It will also examine the role of extension education through training sessions, field demonstrations, advisory visits, farmer meetings, and educational materials in improving farmers’ knowledge of seed-borne disease prevention. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from selected farmers using structured questionnaires designed to measure their exposure to extension education and knowledge of seed-borne disease prevention. Data will be analysed using frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, while correlation and regression analysis may be used to determine the relationship between extension education exposure and farmers’ knowledge levels. The study is expected to reveal that farmers who have greater exposure to extension education may demonstrate higher knowledge of seed-borne disease prevention practices. Extension education is expected to improve farmers’ understanding of healthy seed selection, appropriate seed treatment, disease prevention, and proper seed storage. However, limitations such as inadequate extension contact, limited access to quality seed, insufficient training materials, and poor availability of agricultural information may affect farmers’ ability to acquire and apply appropriate seed health knowledge. The study will be useful to farmers, agricultural extension agents, crop protection specialists, seed producers, agricultural development agencies, research institutions, government agricultural departments, non-governmental organisations, and researchers. It may provide useful information for strengthening extension programmes aimed at improving farmers’ knowledge of seed health and reducing the introduction and spread of seed-borne diseases. The findings may also assist agricultural stakeholders in designing practical training programmes and educational materials that address farmers’ specific seed health information needs. The study concludes that extension education is an important source of agricultural information that can improve farmers’ knowledge of seed-borne disease prevention. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension agencies strengthen farmer training through practical demonstrations, advisory visits, farmer field activities, and accessible educational materials on seed health management. Farmers should also be encouraged to use healthy and certified seeds, adopt appropriate seed treatment methods, and maintain proper seed storage and handling practices to reduce the risks associated with seed-borne diseases.

Keywords: Extension education, farmers’ knowledge, seed-borne diseases, disease prevention, seed health, seed treatment, healthy seeds, certified seeds, disease transmission, seed storage, crop production, agricultural extension, plant health, disease management, agricultural information.