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officers and researchers influence farmers decision making process upon being introduced to an innovation, on whether to adopt its usage or not.
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farmers to be trained were ambition to learn and gain new knowledge on farming to adapt to climate change and variability.
With regard to the farmers’ attitude towards the CCAA project, the programme manager indicated that farmers’ had a positive attitude towards the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa project. The current study findings showed that farmers and the village government were motivated by the project. The study found that most farmers were willing to learn not only from the CCAA experts on information disseminated on climate change and variability, but also to share the innovations with one another, to improve their food security levels.
Trained farmers were asked if untrained farmers were willing to learn from them on innovations they had received from CCAA experts (see question h59 in Appendix 1). Fifty trained farmers, indicated by 15 (30.0%) of the respondents, showed that untrained farmers were highly willing to learn innovations. Twenty-three (46.0%) respondents said that untrained farmers were willing to learn innovations and 4 (8.0%) respondents showed untrained farmers were not willing to learn innovations. Additional findings from trained farmers indicate that a small number 7 (14.0%) respondents indicated untrained farmers were fairly willing to learn innovations, while only 1 (2.0%) respondent said that untrained farmers were neutral. Details are presented in Table 5.8.
The findings illustrate that most untrained farmers were ready to learn innovations from trained farmers to adapt to climate change and variability. These findings are supported by Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations model, which explains the importance of observability in enhancing the rate of adoption (Rogers 2003:221-222). Rogers adds that “most farmers tend to evaluate innovations not based on the scientific research by experts but rather their fellows who have adopted the innovation” (Rogers 2003:36).
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Table 5.8: Trained Farmers’ Responses reUntrained Farmers’ Willingness to Learn Innovations
Response N=50 Frequency Percentage
Highly willing 15 30
Willing 23 46
Neutral 1 2
Fairly willing 7 14
Not willing 4 8
Total 50 100
Untrained farmers were asked whether or not trained farmers were willing to share with them information they had received (cf. question h60 in Appendix 2). Thirty four untrained farmers, showed by 11 (32.4%) respondents, indicated that trained farmers were highly willing to share new information, 15 (44.1%) respondents said that trained farmers were willing, while only 3 (8.8%) respondents said that trained farmers were not willing to share new knowledge on adaptation to climate change and variability with untrained farmers. Three (8.8%) respondents indicated that trained farmers were fairly willing to share new information with them. Two (5.9%) respondents showed that trained farmers were neutral about sharing new information with untrained ones. (See Table 5.9.)
Most trained farmers were willing to share the innovations acquired from CCAA experts.
These results are supported by those by (Rogers 2003:170) in his Diffusion of Innovations model, which shows that the characteristics of the decision-making unit, such as the communication behaviour, influence one’s ability to acquire new knowledge. According to the DOI, earlier adopters, who in this study are trained farmers, have higher communication behaviour and personality attributes which connect them to later adopters through sharing of knowledge (Rogers 2003:289-290). Diederen, Meijl, Wolters and Bijak (2003) in the Netherlands observed that farmers who were innovators were more engaged in using extension services and developing agricultural innovations than early adopters.
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Table 5.9: Untrained Farmers’ Responses reTrained Farmers’ Willingness to Share Innovations
Response N=34 Frequency Percentage
Highly willing 11 32.4
Willing 15 44.1
Neutral 2 5.9
Fairly willing 3 8.8
Not willing 3 8.8
Total 34 100
5.6.1 Usefulness of Training
Respondents were asked if they were able to use innovations upon receiving training (see questions e38 and e38 in Appendices 1 and 2). The majority of farmers were able to use knowledge acquired from both trainers and fellow farmers after receiving training. These results are compatible with the Diffusion of Innovations model which suggests the necessity of using interpersonal communication channels in disseminating information (Rogers 2003).
Most (67 or 79.8%) of the respondents were able to use innovative knowledge received from experts. Only 7 (8.3%) respondents were not able to apply and use new knowledge. Ten (11.9%) respondents were neutral on their understanding and application of innovations received from experts.
Respondents were requested to indicate their ability to understand innovations from trainers.
Thirty six 36 (43%) of the farmers were able to understand and apply new knowledge from trainers, while 31 (37%) respondents were very able; 10 (12%) respondents were neutral; 5 (6.0%) respondents were less able to understand and 2 (2%) respondents were not able to understand. Rogers’ DOI model supports these findings, as it explains that know-how is an essential component in ensuring the effective use of an innovation (Rogers 2003:173). See details in Figure 5.5.
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Figure 5.5: Farmers’ Ability to Understand and Apply Innovations
As the findings indicate in Figure 8 show, farmers’ acquisition of information and embedded knowledge from the training enabled them to change their attitude and farming practices.
These study findings confirm those of Sivakumar and Hansen (2007:74), who showed that appropriate training of users is important in reducing the communication barriers and gaps between information providers and users. The Diffusion of Innovations model recognises the role of attitude as an important factor in an innovation-decision process in adoption of innovations (Rogers 2003:174-175).
Findings from the interviews with farmers, agricultural extension officers and the CCAA programme manager found that the knowledge acquired by farmers have benefitted them in through increasing their annual harvest two to four times for sorghum, sunflower and maize crops, in the application of farm water harvesting techniques using tiered ridges, in new planting methods such as space planting and in early land preparation. Farmers stated that other benefits gained included knowledge on weather forecast measuring equipment, grain preservation and the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Other benefits accrued included improved farm implements such as the Spring jembe, the Magoye ripper, the power tiller and tractors; improved use of seeds, pesticides and ash as a means of preventing insect damage to crops by insects.
Not able; 2;
2%
Less able; 5; 6%
Neither able nor not able;
10; 12%
Able; 36; 43%
Very able; 31;
37%
Not able Less able
Neither able nor not able Able
Very able
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5.7 Specific Channels Employed to Package and Disseminate Information on