Organizational structures for productivity in Kenyan agricultural extension
Abstract
Three aspects of the productivity of Kenya Government agricultural
extension services in Western Province are examined: (1) the degree to
which farmer contact extension agents are well versed in the technical
information they are expected to convey; (2) the extent to which standard
national cultural recommendations are being adapted to local ecological
conditions; and (3) the amount of effort that junior staff are putting
into their basic work of visiting farmers- Personnel policies and organizational
strategies which would improve performance in each of these areas are
discussed. Along with other lesser reforms, proposals are made for the
creation of a mobile, national junior staff retraining service, for a
rigorous system of inspecting extension agent work by an increased reliance
on group extension methods, and for the removal of inter-cadre promotion bars
so as to provide meaningful work incentives. It is suggested that the various
reforms taken together might double the productivity of Kenya's agricultural
extension workers.