Theory question 110
Agricultural ExtensionAn agricultural research organisation categorised farmers in village X according to the rate of adoption of new ideas and came up with the following: Innovators 10, Early adopters 15, Late adopters 70, Never adopters 25.
(a) Calculate the percentage of early adopters and state the implication of this percentage on the extension system.
(b) Suggest four ways of encouraging the innovators.
(c) State four possible reasons for the high number of late adopters.
(d) State two merits of the print media as a channel for agricultural extension.
Show the model answer
(a) Total = 10 + 15 + 70 + 25 = 120 farmers; early adopters = 15/120 × 100 = 12.5%. Implication: few farmers take up new ideas quickly, so the extension system is weak/slow and needs more effort, demonstrations and incentives
(b) Any four: give them inputs/credit and subsidies; use them as contact/demonstration farmers; reward with prizes and recognition; involve them in research trials and field days; link them to markets
(c) Any four: illiteracy; poverty/lack of capital; fear of risk; conservatism and cultural beliefs; poor extension contact; inputs not available; innovations not suited to local conditions; poor results seen elsewhere
(d) Any two: reaches many farmers at once; permanent – can be kept and re-read; cheap per farmer; can carry detailed instructions and pictures
Show the percentage calculation.