Abstract:
Extension training is intended to increase the efficiency and performance of the human resource that
acts responsibly in a society based on a communication interaction with knowledge sources. The main
objective of this study was to assess the effect of training farmers on banana value addition among
smallholder farmers in Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties. The study adopted a pragmatic paradigm and
a cross-sectional survey design and sampled 370 and 30 farmers proportionately obtained from 269,499
and 19,303 smallholder banana farmers in Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties, respectively. Structured
and semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data from the respondents. Secondary
data were obtained from official extension and production records in the two counties as well as related
literature. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics to determine frequencies, percentages and
means. Regression analysis was conducted to examine relationships between the study variables. The
results revealed that there was an association between training farmers on the various method of
banana value addition and adoption of selected banana value addition technologies was statistically
significant at 1% level of significance (p-value = 0.000<0.01,
=156.391, df 1). The study concludes that
farmers having a preferred facilitator in training positively influenced the adoption of banana value
addition technologies. The study recommends the government should create and implement policies
such as collaborating with high learning institution like universities and set days where they will be
training farmers on various methods of banana value addition.
