5.2 Measuring Extension Impact
Most extension impact studies do not consider all aspects when measuring impacts. Most methods used to measure impacts show a statistical relationship between the quantity of extension services made available to farmers and increases in awareness, knowledge, adoption, and productivity. Farmer awareness, knowledge, adoption of technology or practices (AKAP) and changes in farmers' productivity is a convenient method to see the ultimate economic impact of extension. Changes in farmer behaviour will also be reflected in quantities of goods produced, the quantities of inputs used, and in their prices. These, in turn, can be measured as surplus, which is the added value of goods produced from a given set of inputs made possible by the extension activities.
While
the AKAP sequence has a natural ordering, resources in the form of skills and
activities by both extension staff and farmers are required. Knowledge requires
awareness, experience, observation, and the critical ability to evaluate data
and evidence. Knowledge leads to adoption, but adoption does not necessarily
lead to productivity. Productivity depends not only on the adoption of
technically efficient practices but also on infrastructure and marketing. The
AKAP sequencing is related to the flow of new technical information, and to the
existing state of un-adopted technology. We can see this interrelationship more
clearly in the context of productivity "gaps."
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This Learning Resource was Created by the Regional MSc AICM Program at the Haramaya University RDAE Department with Support of AgShare Project.