Assessment of Capacity, Success, and Challenges of Farmers Training Center in Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

FTCs are established to provide extension including capacity development on use of improved farming technologies, market-oriented information, communication and advisory services. The main aim of this study is to assess capacity, success, and challenges of farmers training center for the better of farmers and the effectiveness of extension service provision in Kaffa and Bench-sheko zones. The study were undertaken in Gimbo and Chena district of Kaffa zone and Semen bench district of Bench sheko zone. Data for this study were collected from primary sources through household survey, key informant interview, focus group discussion and field observation and from published and unpublished secondary sources. The finding indicates that FTCs in the study area are better by human resources, office, meeting hall, store and demonstration field. However those sample FTCs are not well equipped and there is a functionality problem on majority of facilities. In the study area FTCs gives much attention to crop activity demonstration, not to livestock and NRM activities. Adoption of crop technology was very low in the study area, which includes the utilization of improved crop variety except maize and coffee, is less than 10%, the utilization of inorganic fertilizer are less than 50% and still the majority of farmers are broadcasting their seeds. The finding indicates that productivity of crop in the study area were very low below the county’s average potential. The majority 70.5% of the sample households participate on FTC based extension services and the rest 29.5% do not participate. There is a significant variation between participant and non-participant in terms of benefit through crop yield, animal production, farm income, land management and soil fertility. FTCs in the study area have many challenges includes unavailability of diversified technology, low skill and knowledge of DAs, low farmers participation, lack of basic infrastructure, facilities, resources and others. FTCs need to be equipped with demonstration facilities, field, equipment and human resources.