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Effect of Extension Training on Farmers’ Adoption of Pest Monitoring Calendars

Abstract

Pest monitoring is an important component of effective agricultural production because timely identification and monitoring of pest populations can help farmers make appropriate decisions on pest control. Pest monitoring calendars provide farmers with organized information on periods of pest occurrence, crop growth stages, monitoring activities, and recommended times for taking control measures. However, farmers may have limited knowledge and skills in using systematic pest monitoring approaches. Extension training can provide practical information and guidance that may improve farmers’ ability to adopt pest monitoring calendars in crop production. This study will examine the effect of extension training on farmers’ adoption of pest monitoring calendars. The study will assess farmers’ exposure to extension training, determine their knowledge of pest monitoring calendars, and examine the extent to which training influences their adoption and use of calendar-based pest monitoring practices. It will also assess the frequency and practical nature of extension training received by farmers. The study will focus on extension training, pest monitoring calendars, farmers’ knowledge, pest identification, crop growth stages, pest occurrence periods, field scouting, monitoring schedules, pest recording, early detection, pest population assessment, control timing, and adoption of recommended pest monitoring practices. Information will be obtained from farmers to determine their exposure to extension training and the extent to which the knowledge and skills acquired are applied in their farm management activities. 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 frequency distributions, 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 pest monitoring calendars. The study is expected to reveal that extension training may improve farmers’ knowledge and adoption of pest monitoring calendars. Farmers who receive regular practical training and demonstrations may demonstrate greater ability to identify pests, follow monitoring schedules, record pest occurrences, and undertake control measures at appropriate periods. The study may also indicate that the practical content and frequency of extension training contribute to farmers’ effective use of pest monitoring calendars. The study will be useful to farmers, agricultural extension agents, agricultural development agencies, researchers, crop protection organizations, agricultural cooperatives, and policymakers. It may provide useful information for developing extension programmes that promote systematic pest monitoring and timely pest management. The findings may also assist extension personnel in designing simple and practical monitoring calendars that farmers can use to improve pest management decisions and reduce avoidable crop losses. The study concludes that extension training is an important source of knowledge and practical skills for improving farmers’ adoption of pest monitoring calendars. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension agencies strengthen practical training, field demonstrations, monitoring exercises, and follow-up advisory services on calendar-based pest monitoring. Extension programmes should emphasize pest identification, monitoring schedules, record keeping, early detection, and timely control decisions to support effective and sustainable crop protection.

Keywords: Extension training, pest monitoring, pest monitoring calendars, farmers’ adoption, agricultural extension, farmer knowledge, pest identification, field scouting, pest occurrence, monitoring schedules, pest recording, early detection, crop protection, pest management, agricultural production.