An Investigation into the Factors Affecting the Implementation of Agricultural Extension Program in Hintalo-Wajirat Wereda, South- Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia
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Date
2011-08
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Agriculture is the backbone of Ethiopian economy and 85% of Ethiopian population are living in
rural areas based on agricultural economic activities. That is why the sector attracted the
attention of the Government and NGOs in general and agricultural institutions in particular. As a
result, agricultural extension program is one of the inputs for the development of the agricultural
sector. However, agricultural extension program faced various challenges in Hintalo-Wajirat
Wereda in its implementation process. Hence, the objective of this research is to explore the
factors affecting the implementation of agricultural extension program in Hintalo-Wajirat
Wereda. In doing this, exploratory and explanatory approaches with qualitative and quantitative
methods are employed. However, the research has involved more of qualitative than quantitative
method. Purposive and random sampling techniques are employed in order to select the study
sites within Hintalo-Wajirat Wereda and study respondents respectively. To collect the required
primary source of data, instruments of data collection which include questionnaire, interview,
focus group discussion and practical site observation were used. Secondary source of data to
strengthen the primary source of data was also carefully examined. In the study, it is revealed that
lack of awareness, provision of education and training, absence of supervision and coordination,
insufficient daily perdium, inadequate infrastructure, lack of credit service and expensive nature
of the price of agricultural inputs were the major factors affecting the implementation of
agricultural extension program in Hintalo-Wajirat Wereda. Based on the findings of the study, the
research recommended that creating community awareness, providing educational and training
facilities, supportive supervision and coordination, establishing sufficient infrastructural
conditions, provision of sufficient allowance to agricultural extension workers and credit service
to the rural households and increment of the price of agricultural inputs should be the focus of
areas by the Governments and NGOs.
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Keywords
Implementation of Agricultural Extension Program