Masters Thesis
Agricultural technologies are important in increasing crop productivity. However, the rate
of adoption of disseminated technologies has remained low among farmers. The study on
which this dissertation is based aimed at assessing the role of the Rural Initiatives for
Transformation Agricultural Technologies (RIPAT) approach in adoption of disseminated
agricultural technologies in Ikungi District, Singida Region, Tanzania. The specific
objectives were to: determine association between socio-demographic factors and farmers’
adoption of selected agricultural technologies, compare agricultural productivity among
the RIPAT approach participants who practise different technologies disseminated by the
RIPAT, determine influence of the RIPAT approach factors on agricultural productivity,
and determine attitude of farmers towards the RIPAT approach in agricultural knowledge
dissemination and adoption. A cross-sectional research design was adopted whereby
quantitative and qualitative data were collected from a sample of 120 respondents and five
key informants. Qualitative data were collected using key informant interviews.
Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Qualitative data were
analysed using content analysis, and quantitative data were analysed descriptively and
inferentially using chi square test, one-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression.
Findings from the study showed that, of the four technologies that the RIPAT
disseminated, home gardening technology was the most adopted technology, followed by
poultry mother unit technology and conservation agriculture technology while rain water
harvesting technology was the least adopted. In addition, the findings showed that
education of household head was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) associated with adoption of
poultry mother unit, harvesting rainfall and home gardening technologies. The findings
also showed that the use of the RIPAT approach had managed to increase contact among
farmers and extension agents through sequential training provided to extension agents as
well as in provision of working tools among extension agents. The findings also showed
that the extent of the RIPAT disseminated technologies was higher at 75% as compared to
that of other common technologies which was at 60%, and the extent of overall adoption
was 66.67%. The majority of the respondents were engaged in maize production compared
to other crops. Moreover, the findings showed that farmers growing maize (68), sorghum
(6), millet (29), finger millet (35) and sunflower (25) had adopted for at least three
different technologies among conservation agriculture technologies, poultry mother unit
technology, harvesting rain water technology and home gardening technology. The
findings also showed that farmers’ experience on the use of the RIPAT disseminated
technologies had a significant p ≤ 0.05 effect on crop productivity. The findings further
showed that 65% of the respondents had favourable attitude towards adoption of
conservation agriculture technology, rain water harvesting technology, raised home
gardens technology and poultry mother unit technologies disseminated by the RIPAT
project. It is concluded that the surveyed farmers in Ikungi District were practising
traditional technologies to a large extent but more with the application of the RIPAT
approach conservation agriculture, poultry mother unit, harvesting rain water and home
gardening agricultural technologies. The farmers had a chance of improving their
technologies through increasing their participation in new technologies. Basket of options
gives farmers choices in practising the most favourable technologies meeting their needs.
It is recommended that RECODA organisation staff should conduct campaigns to promote
RIPAT agricultural technologies so that more farmers can have more favourable attitude
towards the technologies. This will enhance adoption of the disseminated agricultural
technologies. In order to increase farmers’ knowledge, adoption and willingness to
participate and practise RIPAT disseminated technologies, there is a need for provision of
subsidies by projects applying RIPAT approach to farmers and increase collaboration with
government extension officers.