Borich Needs Assessment Model for Assessing Rice Post-harvest Value Addition Training Needs of Agricultural Extension Agents, Southern Region, Sierra Leone

Subject Areas : Agricultural Extension

Philip  Kamanda ¹ (Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Njala University, Njala Campus, Private Mail Bag 47235, Freetown, Sierra Leone)
Masa  Motaung ² (Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Faculty of Agribusiness, Education and Extension, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Botswana.)
Ernest  Okorley ³ (Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, School of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana)

Received: 2023-02-03 Accepted : 2023-03-21 Published : 2023-03-30

Keywords: training needs, Agricultural Extension Agents, rice post-harvest value addition technologies, Sierra Leone, Southern Region,

Abstract :

The study investigated the rice post-harvest value addition competencies of Agricultural Extension Agents by the utilising the Borich Needs Assessment Model. The specific objectives sought to assess the personal characteristics of the agents, followed by their required training needs in rice post-harvest value addition. The study was done in the Southern Region of Sierra Leone which covers Bo, Bonthe, Moyamaba, and Pujehun districts. A descriptive quantitative research design that involved a survey method through a census of fifty Agricultural Extension Agents was used. Primary data were collected with a questionnaire from this population. The training needs of the agents that are required in rice post-harvest value addition technologies were analysed using the Mean Weighted Discrepancy Score (MWDS) formula of the Borich Needs Assessment model. The results were ranked and presented in tables. The results showed that the majority of the agents (84.0%) are males. Technologies such as milling paddy (MWDS=7.2769), and packaging and marketing of rice (MWDS=6.8672) ranked as the highest training needs of the agents. The study recommends an increase in the recruitment of female Agricultural Extension Agents and the provision of rice post-harvest value addition resources to improve rice quality after harvest.

References:

1. Abdullah, D. Z., Shah, T., Ali, S., Ahmad, W., Din, I.U., and Ilyas, A. (2017). Factors affecting household food security in rural northern hinterland of Pakistan. J. Saudi Soc. Agric. Sci. (10), 10-16.


2. (2017). Africa Agriculture Status Report: The Business of Smallholder Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (Issue 5). Nairobi, Kenya: Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Issue No. 5. Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, (5), 180.


3. Aggarwa, R., & Ranganathan, P. (2018). Conducting real-world evidence studies in India. Study designs: Part 1 – An overview and classification. Perspective in Clinical Research, 10(2), 15-056.


4. Alibaygi, A., & Zarafshani, K. (2008). Training needs of Iranian extension agents about sustainability : The use of Borich ’ s need assessment model. 3(October), 681–687.


5. Ammani, A. A., & Abdullahi, Y. M. (2015). Developing Agricultural Value Chains: Implications for Agricultural Extension. Advance in Agriculture and Biology, 4(4), 10–12. https://doi.org/10.15192/pscp.aab.2015.4.4.132134.


6. Antwi-Agyei, P., & Stringer, L. C. (2021). Improving the effectiveness of agricultural extension services in supporting farmers to adapt to climate change: Insights from northeastern Ghana. Climate Risk Management, 32, 100304.


7. Bhattacharyya, P., Bisen, J., Bhaduri, D., Priyadarsini, S., Munda, S., Chakraborti, M., & Nimbrayan, P. (2021). Turn the wheel from waste to wealth: Economic and environmental gain of sustainable rice straw management practices over field burning in reference to India. Science of the Total Environment, 775, 145896.


8. Borich, G.D. (1980). A needs assessment model for conducting follow-up studies. Journal of Teacher Education, 31 (31), 39-49. 2.


9. Bukchin, S., & Kerret, D. (2020). Character strengths and sustainable technology adoption by smallholder farmers. Heliyon, 6(8).


10. Cahyono, E. D., & Agunga, R. (2016). Policy and Practice of Participatory Extension in Indonesia: A Case Study of AEAs in East Java Province. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, (March 2017), 38–57.


11. Conteh, A. R. (2020). Strengthening the Role of Research in Agricultural Development Programmes in Sierra Leone. 13(6), 18–27. https://doi.org/10.9790/2380-1306021827


12. Danso-Abbeam, G., Ehiakpor, D. S., & Aidoo, R. (2018). Agricultural extension and its effects on farm productivity and income: Insight from Northern Ghana. Agriculture and Food Security, 7(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-018-0225-x


13. Donaldson, J. (2020). Extension Models. Exploring Proactive and Reactive Approaches. Retrieved from https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-models-exploring-proactive-and-reactive-approaches


14. Donkor, E. A., Garnevska, E., Siddique, M. I., & Donkor, E. (2021). Determinants of Rice Farmer Participation in the Direct Marketing Channel in Ghana. Sustainability, 13(9), 5047.


15. Ferreira, R. R. (2013). Training Needs Assessment : Where We Are and Where We Should Go. January 2012, 77–99.


16. Flick, U. (2006). An Introduction To Qualitative Research (3 Ed). Sage Publications. PP.448. 3. Government of Zimbabwe. An overview of economic development in Zimbabwe, H


17. Gadzirayi, C., Mafuse, N., Zivenge, E., Veremu, R., & Sansole, W. (2020). Agricultural Extension Needs of Frontline Extension Workers under a Pluralistic Advisory System: Case of Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems (IJASRT in EES), 10(4), 165-172.


18. Ibrahim, M., Ganawah, J., & Kamara, A. (2021). The Role of Agricultural Extension Programs in the Development of the Agricultural Sector in Sierra Leone. 12.


19. Issahaku, A. (2014). Perceived Competencies of Agriculture Extension Workers in Extension Services Delivery in Northern Region of Ghana, Perspective from Literature. Developing Country Studies, 4(15), 107–115.


20. Jehanzeb & Bashir, (2013). Training and Development Program and Its Benefits to Employee and Organization: A Conceptual Study. European Journal of Business and Management. Vol.5, No.2, 2013. t: https://w ww.re search gate.n et/pub licatio n/274 704136


21. Kamanda, P. J., Momoh, E. J., Yila, M. K., & Motaung, M. V. (2022). Adoption of NERICA Varieties and Their Associated Technologies by Smallholder Farmers in the Northern and Southern Regions of Sierra Leone. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems (IJASRT in EES), 12(1), 57-64.


22. Kamara, J. S., & Cooke, R. A. (2015). A national survey of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) Grain quality in Sierra Leone II: Evaluation of physical grain quality. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 15(5), 10559-10577–10577.


23. Kamara, J. S., & Mansaray, B. (2015). Rice Postproduction Losses in Sierra Leone : The Case of Agricultural Business Centers ( ABC ). December, 2–5.


24. Mansaray, A; Lappia, J.; Sinnah, R.,; Turay, J.; Vanessa, J., (2016). Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Sierra Tropical Ltd’s Agricultural Project: Environmental and Social Management Plans. © CEMMATS Group Ltd


25. Mihretie, A. A., Misganaw, G. S., & Siyum Muluneh, N. (2022). Adoption Status and Perception of Farmers on Improved Tef Technology Packages: Evidence from East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia. Advances in Agriculture, 2022.


26. Mustapha, S., Man, N., Shah, J. A., Kamarulzaman, N. H., & Tafida, A. A. (2022). Factors Influencing the Adoption of ICT’S in Extension Service Delivery Among the Extension Agents in North-East, Nigeria. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 38(1), 35-45.


27. Olorunfemi, T. O., Olorunfemi, O. D., & Oladele, O. I. (2020). Determinants of the involvement of extension agents in disseminating climate smart agricultural initiatives: Implication for scaling up. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, 19(4), 285-292.


28. Oyegbami, A. (2018). Location and distance of farmers to agricultural extension service: implication for agricultural development in Oyo State, Nigeria. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension, 46(2), 14-23.


29. Ponto, PhD, APRN, AGCNS-BC, AOCNS®, J. (2015). Understanding and Evaluating Survey Research. Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology, 6(2).


30. Salas, E., Tannenbaum, S. I., Kraiger, K., & Smith-Jentsch, K. A. (2012). The Science of Training and Development in Organizations: What Matters in Practice. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, Supplement, 13(2), 74–101. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100612436661


31. Saleh, J. M., Man, N., Salih, M. H., Hassan, S., Nawi, N. M., & Jasim, S. (2016). Training Needs of Agriculture Extension Officers in Iraq. 6(2)


32. Saleh, J. M., & Man, N. B. (2017). Training Requirements of Agricultural Extension Officers Using Borich Needs Assessment Model. Journal of Agricultural & Food Information, 0(0), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1 080/1 0496505.2 017.1281748


33. Shah, J. A., Asmuni, A., & Ismail, A. (2016). Roles of Extension Agents Towards Agricultural Practice in Malaysia Roles of Extension Agents Towards Agricultural Practice in Malaysia. September 2013. https://doi.org/10.18517/ijaseit.3.1.27


34. Statistics Sierra Leone. (2016). Statistics Sierra Leone 2015 Population and Housing Census Summary of Final Results. 1–190.


35. (2016). Framer’ s Training Manual on Post-Harvest Management of Sorghum, Groundnut and Rice. https://www.courseher o.com /file/1 00336 932/unido_post_harvest_management_training_manual_for_farmers _0.pdf - Framer’s Training Manual on Post-Harvest Management of Sorghum, Groundnut and | Course Hero


36. Wulandari, R. (2015). Information needs and source information of agricultural extension workers in DIY. AGRARIS: Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development Research, 1(2), 85-97.