Analysis of the effect of agricultural extension development initiatives on households agricultural food productivity and sufficiency among small-scale farmers: A case of Kilifi County, Kenya

Abstract

The present study assess the contributions of the numerous agricultural extension and development initiatives on household agricultural food crop production and its sufficiency among small-scale farmers in Kilifi County in Kenya. Multi-stage sampling techniques namely purposive and proportionate sampling was used to select the study area and the sample size for the study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics t test at p value of 0.025. The results show that agricultural food productivity among small-scale farmers households in most of the produce except for small seeded cereals (sorghum and millet), cassava and dairy produce were statistically insignificant. The paper recommends that a policy should be developed and implemented to ensure that the government and development partners engaged in implementation of development initiatives carry out a situation analysis prior to development and promotion of crop varieties and types of livestock whose ecological  requirements for their performance is supported by the local ecological characteristics, crop varieties that are suitable for the market and at the same time have qualities for long shelf life, last longer in the field long after attaining its physiological maturity to allow for piece meal harvesting. A policy frame should also be developed to provide guidelines on funding of livestock production projects and programmes by the Kenya Government to ensure provision of regular services to farmers.