Adult Education Methods Used in Disseminating Information to Small Scale Farmers on the Use of E-voucher in Chongwe District, Zambia

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Date
2019-09Author
Banda, Martha Malita
Changala, Moses
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
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This study sought to explore adult education methods used in the dissemination of information
on the use of e-voucher as a farmer input distribution system to small scale farmers in Chongwe
district of Zambia. The study employed a descriptive research design. A sample of 30
respondents comprising 26 small scale farmers, 2 officers from the Zambia National Farmers’
Union and 2 from the Zambia National Commercial Bank was purposively selected. Data was
collected through interview guides and focus group discussions. Data was qualitatively analysed
by content analysis and information presented in descriptions and narrations. Verbatims which
were considered significant to the study were also included for illustration. Findings revealed
that adult education methods used in the dissemination of information to small scale farmers on
e-voucher in Chongwe district included radio programmes, farmer meetings and door-to-door
visits by cooperative leaders and agricultural extension workers. The study also established that
dissemination of the information was mostly done in local languages as most of the farmers
could not speak or understand English. This posed a challenge of language barrier as some
officers involved in the dissemination of information were not conversant with the local
languages. The study recommended that a local or community radio station should be set up for
the purpose of undertaking farmer awareness campaigns and information sharing on e-voucher
and other aspects of agriculture in local languages. It also recommended that materials on e-voucher
and related aspects should be translated into local languages for ease of access by small
scale farmers. The study also recommended that preference in the deployment of agricultural
extension officers should be given to those who are able to speak local languages while those
who are unable to do so should be given the opportunity, through training, to acquire them.
Citation
Banda, M. M & Changala, M. (2019). Adult Education Methods Used in Disseminating Information to Small Scale Farmers on the Use of E-voucher in Chongwe District, Zambia. Journal of Popular Education in Africa. 3(7), 29 – 38.Publisher
African Society for Research on the Education of Adults (ASREA)
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Article