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Effect of Extension Training on Farmers’ Adoption of Crop Lodging Prevention Practices

Abstract

Crop lodging is the bending, breaking, or falling of crop plants before harvest and can result in reduced yield, harvesting difficulties, grain or produce losses, and deterioration in product quality. Appropriate crop management practices can help reduce the occurrence and effects of lodging in susceptible crops. Farmers require adequate knowledge of factors associated with lodging and appropriate preventive measures. Extension training can provide practical information and technical guidance on crop lodging prevention and management. This study will examine the effect of extension training on farmers’ adoption of crop lodging prevention practices. The study will assess farmers’ exposure to extension training, determine their knowledge of factors contributing to crop lodging, and examine the extent to which training influences their adoption of recommended preventive practices. It will also assess the frequency of training and the practical techniques promoted through extension activities. The study will focus on extension training, crop lodging prevention, farmers’ knowledge, plant population, crop spacing, fertilizer management, variety selection, planting time, water management, wind protection, crop support, field management, and adoption of recommended lodging prevention practices. Information will be obtained from farmers involved in the production of crops susceptible to lodging. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from selected farmers using structured questionnaires and appropriate field observation methods. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations will be used to summarize the data, while correlation and regression analysis will be used to examine the relationship between extension training and farmers’ adoption of crop lodging prevention practices. The study is expected to reveal that extension training may improve farmers’ knowledge and adoption of crop lodging prevention practices. Farmers who receive practical training and technical guidance may demonstrate greater adoption of appropriate crop varieties, planting arrangements, spacing, fertilizer management, water management, and other recommended practices that reduce lodging risk. The study may also indicate that regular extension contact and practical demonstrations improve farmers’ ability to identify and manage factors associated with crop lodging. The study will be useful to farmers, agricultural extension agents, agricultural development agencies, researchers, agricultural cooperatives, seed organizations, and policymakers. It may provide useful information for strengthening extension programmes aimed at reducing crop lodging and improving farm productivity. The findings may also assist extension personnel in developing practical training materials on crop establishment and management practices that minimize lodging. The study concludes that extension training can provide important technical knowledge and practical support for improving farmers’ adoption of crop lodging prevention practices. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension agencies strengthen farmer training, practical demonstrations, farm visits, and follow-up advisory services on appropriate variety selection, plant population, spacing, fertilizer management, water management, and other crop husbandry practices to reduce lodging and improve agricultural productivity.

Keywords: Extension training, crop lodging, lodging prevention, farmers’ adoption, agricultural extension, farmer knowledge, crop management, variety selection, plant population, crop spacing, fertilizer management, water management, crop husbandry, farm productivity, extension services.