Addressing Constraints in Extension Services to Boost Adoption of Soil Health Technologies

Abstract

Declining effectiveness of the extension services is a major factor constraining progressive adoption of Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) technologies and innovations, and hence slowing growth of Kenyan agriculture. An effective agricultural extension service that provides stakeholders with relevant knowledge and information can improve agricultural productivity. Such information should include improved soil health technologies and innovations, improved seeds and planting materials, crop husbandry, post-harvest management and marketing. Targeting soil health extension service provision has already been necessitated by declining agricultural production. Access to the right soil health technologies for site-specific inputs at the right time is intended to increase farmers’ ability to optimize the use of their resources. There is little formal collaboration among extension providers a situation that has led to lack of synergy and poor access to extension support services. Thus, collaboration is weak resulting in duplication of efforts and unnecessary competition. Additionally, there is low appreciation of the importance of the role the extension service plays in supporting agricultural production.