Perceptions of Farmers on Extension Services in the Kabbe Constituency

This study was conducted to investigate the perception of farmers of the effectiveness of the extension officers in the Kabbe Constituency, Namibia. A sample of 40 farmers was selected through a simple random sampling technique, and five extension technicians were interviewed in a focus group. Data were collected from farmers using a structured questionnaire that addressed the need of farmers regarding extension services being offered to them by the extension officers. This study was important in the context of the fact that sustainable food production is central to the alleviation of poverty in Namibia. In order to achieve sustainable food production, agricultural extension officers must be able to carry out their intended function: to offer their skills and expertise in sustainable agricultural methods and also to help the farmers to help themselves in addressing sustainable food production. This study further investigated how extension officers themselves define and execute their role, as well as how the perceptions and attitudes of the recipients of these services - the rural farmers - also impact the success of sustainable agricultural development programmes.