Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Vol. 1(6), pp. 121-129, December 2012 ISSN 2327-3151 ©2012 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of research-extension-farmer linkage in finger millet technology development and delivery in Mecha District of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Shimelis Altaye

Hawassa University, Integrated Seed Sector Development Program, Hawassa, P. O. Box 597, Hawassa, Ethiopia.

E-mail: shimealt@yahoo.com. Tel: +251 (0) 91176 36 16. Fax: +251 (0) 46 220 67 11.

Accepted 4 December, 2012

Abstract

The study examines research-extension-farmers linkage in relation to participatory finger millet technology development and delivery in Mecha district of the Amhara regional state, Ethiopia, due to the fact that the present research-extension-farmers linkage scenario in the country in general and in the study area in particular has been inefficient and ineffective in achieving the prescribed goal of increasing food production and improving the quality of life of farmers. In this study, random and purposive sampling procedures was used to select 5 sample kebeles (villages) and 100 sample farm households. Moreover, 18 researchers from three research organizations and 26 extension agents from three extension organizations were selected purposfully. The requiered data were collected using both primary and secondary sources, and subjected to descriptive statistics for analysis. Results of the study revealed that the influence and participation of farmers, extension agents, and researchers in the generation, transfer, and adoption of new finger millet technologies have been minimal. Farmers’ awareness of improved finger millet vareties and researcher’s awareness of best farmers’ finger millet vareities and practices were low. Moreover, participation of farmers, researchers, and extension agents in setting both research and extension agenda; use of collaborative activities such as joint adaptive trials, and surveys, has been a bare minimum. Likewise, their mechanisms of exchange of knowledge and information, and feedback of agricultural innovations were found to be weak. The low use of such activities underscores the lack of complete or partial linkage existing between researchers, extension agents and farmers.  The overall finding of the study underlined the high importance of a responsible body, which manages linkages in a system perspective with transparent and agreed-upon linkage policy that fosters successful research-extension-farmers linkages with well formulated, properly defined, and institutionalized linkage strategies and mechanism. It should be noted that policy makers, managers, and research and extension personnel should recognize that research and extension are part of a single system and that the mission of this system is to make relevant technologies available to farmers. Therefore, policy and development interventions should give emphasis to linkages, and should treat it as an integral part in the technology generation and transfer process through provision of better incentive mechanisms, adequate financial, physical, and human resources. What is more, effective leadership that makes research and extension accountable for their actions is also needed. 

Key words: Research, extension, farmer, linkage mechanism, participation, finger millet.