Authors : A.Valerie Solomon and Beulah E. Esu
Abstract: The study surveyed the perspectives of subsistence farmers in the incorporation of new/underutilized crops into their farming systems using Desmodium sp. as a case study. Data were collected from a total of 200 respondents in the Suba region of Kenya and Western Nigeria. The analysis of data showed that the biological attributes of respondents like sex and age did not hinder the incorporation of Desmodium sp. into their farming system. The average age of respondents was 54 years, with majority (65%) being male. These perspectives were expressed by respondents in relation to the incorporation of new/underutilized crops into their farming systems: Adoption will be sustained even if new crop increases the workload of the farmer granted that the benefits outweigh the extra workload; a new crop that also possesses human nutritional value will be more readily accepted; adopting a new crop improves your social status as someone who is knowledgeable and enlightened and a crop that is easy to cultivate is preferable. Others include the accessibility to planting materials is important and enhances adoption/sustainability of adoption and the importance of a ready market for the crop and/or its product. The study concludes that in addition to awareness of the constituent needs and cooperation between service groups, the perspectives of farmers is important in any successful extension programme.
A.Valerie Solomon and E. Esu, Beulah , 2008. Incorporating Subsistence Farmers� Perspectives into Extension Education and Dissemination of Technology on New/Underutilized Crops. Agricultural Journal, 3: 319-322.