Abstract:
Dissemination and use of improved agricultural technologies is an important factor towards
attaining improved agricultural production. The purpose of the study was to determine
effectiveness of project extension approach in dissemination and adoption, knowledge and
skills acquisition, levels of maize production as alternative to conventional extension approach
and influence of selected socio-economic factors on adoption among small-scale maize farmers
in Seme Sub-County, Kisumu County. Survey research method was used with Ex post facto
study design and purposive random sampling technique where 180 small scale maize farmers
were sampled and interviewed using structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential
statistics were used where, descriptive statistics was used to compute percentages, means and
standard deviations whereas inferential statistics was used in computing t-test, analysis of
variances (ANOVA) and multiple regression analysis. Hypotheses were tested at α 0.05, and
data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Results indicates
statistically significant difference (P<0.05) between the approaches regarding adoption of
selected maize production technologies, knowledge and skills acquisition and level of maize
production. An average of 83.20 percent (R2 = 0.8320) of the variation in the adoption of
selected maize production technologies was explained by some of the selected socio-economic
factors. Based on this study, it was concluded that project extension approach is more effective
in the dissemination and adoption of selected maize production technologies, knowledge and
skills acquisition, and high maize yields as compared to beneficiaries of conventional extension
approach. Household income, household size and education levels influence adoption of
selected maize production technologies while age, gender and farm size do not. The
recommendation drawn this study was therefore, to support dissemination of selected maize
production technologies through project extension approach for adoption in many areas in the
region by both private sectors, National and County Governments.
