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.