Understanding agricultural extension professionals’ intention to use participatory approaches in Kenya
Abstract
This study investigates the factors motivating agricultural extension
professionals to adopt participatory approaches (PA) and examines how
their beliefs and attitudes influence the design and delivery of
extension services for farmers and rural communities. A total of 180
public sector agricultural extension officers working with smallholder
farmers across five Kenyan counties were surveyed. Data were collected
using a questionnaire based on the theory of (TPB) planned behaviour
to assess the officers’ attitudes and intentions. Results indicate that
extension professionals generally hold favourable views towards
participatory extension methods. However, systemic barriers, such as
staff shortages and insufficient management support, hinder their
willingness to implement these approaches. Furthermore, demographic
factors, including education, gender, and marital status, significantly
influence their readiness to adopt participatory methods. This research
contributes to the existing literature on PA and offers valuable insights
for enhancing extension and advisory services.
URI
https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2025.2470238http://repository.mut.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/6632