Browsing by Author "Katumbi, Cyprian"

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    Participation in Agricultural extension and village development activities a case study of six villages in Mbeya region
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 1979) Katumbi, Cyprian
    This study begins by discussing the importance of agriculture in the country’s economy. It discusses the alternative extensions strategies from the statutory approach during the colonial era through the progressive farmer approach. All of these were aimed at increasing agricultural production, but each had its characteristics short comings which tended to lead toward its characteristics short comings which tended to lead rural class differentiation and inequality. The present agricultural extension policy is directed towards helping Ujamaa (socialist) villages, as these have been thought to be better adapted to the Tanzania situation. However. Studies have shown that, even in Ujamaa villages, the agricultural extension staff continues to work more with a particular class of farmers, hence the hope that group methods curb class formation may be frustrated. This study examines the characteristics of farmers and villages which make the most use, and the least use, of agricultural extension services. Traits that characterize farmers as well as villages which participate most and least in village projects are also considered, as well as the effect of both extension contact and participation in village projects on husbandry practices. The study covered three Districts, namely, Mbozi, Mbeya and Chunya in Mbeya Region. In each District one pair of villages was studies. The survey of 180 farmers (i.e. 30 farmers per villages) was designed to measure level of extension contact, participation in group activities, and to determine maize, cotton and pyrethrum husbandry practices. Results from multiple regression analyses showed that age, level of education and relative wealth have significant influence on the level of individual farmer’s extension contact. At the village level the presence of a resident extension agent had a statistically significant effect on the mean extension contact score. Level of extension contact, age relative wealth and the number of development projects in the village were found to have an important impact on the level of participation in communal production or village extension projects. Both age and the number of development projects in a village showed statistically significant negative effects on individual farmer’s husbandry practices. Thus, the higher levels of participation and extension