Socio- Economic Characteristics of Urban Extension Workers Influencing Empowerment of Farmers in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

The study examined the influence of socio-economic characteristics of urban extension workers on farmers’ empowerment. Purposive and simple random sampling methods were used to select 64 extension workers by utilizing the Yamane formula. Data were collected by the use of questionnaires. Frequencies, percentiles and multiple linear regressions were utilised to analyse the data. The extension workers’ socio - economic characteristics were found to positively influence the choice of extension methods. The findings revealed that 37.2% of farmer empowerment could be explained by the choice of extension methods influenced by the characteristics of extension workers. However, 49.9% of the extension workers were not aware of the adult learning principles (ALPs) that are employed in the appropriate choice of extension methods. The study recommends that extension workers in Nairobi County be trained in competencies to consider ALPs and information communication and technology (ICT) techniques in choices of extension methods. These competencies can ultimately lead to an extension system design transformation that will assist the few extension workers to serve more farmers efficiently and effectively leading to farmer empowerment.

Key words: Extension worker characteristics, farmer empowerment, Nairobi, urban and peri-urban agriculture.