Impact of Extension Group Contact Methods on Adoption of, Technical Package of, Hibiscus sabdariffa.L, By farmers in North Kordofan State

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing the impact of some extension group contact methods such as (extension meetings, field and home visits, fields demonstrations and farmer field schools. (F.F.Ss) on farmers adoption of “Hibiscus sabdariffa, L” Production technical package such as (Using of improved varieties, using of hand peeling tools or “Gargara” as well as adoption of other recommended cultural practices such as (seed rate, sowing date, plant spaces, cultivation and harvesting date” by the farmers in North Kordofan State (N.K.S) The study also aimed at identifying the association between farmers’ socio-economic characteristics such as (Age, gender, family size, education level, farm size, farmer experience … etc)andtheir impact on adoption of hibiscus technical package. For achieving the aims of this study, asocial survey methods was used, and a multi- stage stratified random simple sample procedure were used for selection of 130 farmers out of the total population 1420 hibiscus growers, the selected sample were distributed in 13 villages and in three localities namely Rahad (4 villages), Um Rwaba (5 villages) and Sheikan (4 villages) Primary data were collected through a well structured questionnaire that consists of two parts, the first part concerned with socio economic characteristics of the respondents, the second is concerned with measuring the extent and importance of each extension contact method. The primary data was analyzed by descriptive statistics using frequency distribution and percentages also Chi-square test at a level of significance (0.05) used to detect the association between variables, statistical package for social science (SPSS) were used for data analysis. The results showed that only minority 6.2% of the respondents were those who always attend extension meetings, 68.5% of the respondents never participated in training sessions, also majority of the respondents have low participation in many of the agricultural activates conducted in the study area as 67.7% of them never participated in field days, 65.5% never participated in field visits and 63.8% never attend in field demonstration. Adoption of using hand peeling tool, and use of improved hibiscus seed varieties in the study area was highly associated with attending traning session and attending extension meetings, at a level of (0.00) of significance. Thus, the extension programme carried out by Practical Action and EidElNile NGO were of limited influence on farmers’ adoption of recommended hibiscus production technical package. On the basis of the findings of the study the following recommendations was drawn: 1. Framers should be strongly encouraged to attend and participate in extension activities in field days, field visits, field demonstration (F.F.Ss) to get necessary information concerning hibiscus production. 2. Community training centres need to be constructed supported with audio visual system to train villagers on crop production and improved technologies. 3. Farmers organizations and producers co-operations and village developing committees must be strengthened to provide a wide range of activities and support.