Effects of Government Extension Services on Maize Production in Uasin-Gishu County

Abstract

Kenya has continued to experience food shortage despite various interventionist strategies put in place by the government leading to importation as a means of offsetting the deficit. It is against this backdrop that the study evaluated the influence of government extension services on maize production. The study was augured on social protection theory by United Nation Institute of Research and Social Development (UNIRSD) and adopted descriptive research design. The sample size was 396 respondents both small and large-scale farmers within UasinGishu County purposively sampled from a population of 40,000 active maize farmers registered by county agricultural office. The sample size was further distributed among the three Sub counties namely; Eldoret West, Wareng and Eldoret East based on their proportionate population of farmers. The data was collected by use of questionnaires. Pretest of the research instrument to test its reliability was done in Eldoret East Sub-County among the wheat farmers, while viability of the collection instrument was subjected to expert opinion test to check its suitability for the study. The researcher collected quantitative data by use of questionnaires. The data was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics and the relationships between the independent variables and dependent variable was established by use of regression analysis by both multi and bivariate regression statistic techniques. Statistical package for social science (SPSS) Version 24 software was used to analyze quantitative data and outcome presented inform of graphs, pie charts and tables. The study established that there was significant positive relationship between government extension services (R2=27.5%, F= 135.390 and P-Value= 0.000)and maize production. The study recommended that the government should encourage farmers to seek the services of extension officers. Agriculture extension officers should hold field days regularly, properly publicize them and should be relevant to farmer’s needs.