Factors impeding tea production in smallholder sub-sector of the Kenya tea industry: an assessment extension staff awareness of existing technologies.

Abstract

This study assessed the level of extension staff in the various technological packages when compared to the agronomic research recommendations. The survey covered 76 extension staff in Kirinyaga, Nyambene, Nandi and Nyamira districts, Kenya, and revealed that 70, 55, 60 and 70% respectively, of the recommended technological packages were significantly different from the research recommendation level. Thus, the extension staff are not adequately equipped with correct research information on most of the tea agronomic recommendations. Most staff were relatively old and had low levels of formal education further impairing their ability to effectively diffuse technology. The low education levels of the staff suggest that the past technology transfer methods used were inappropriate. There was a very high farmer to extension staff ratio making it difficult for the extension staff to reach individual farmers, particularly when there was inadequate transport.