Effectiveness of video in agricultural extension training : the case of ZOA piggery extension video in Arua district

Abstract

This study explored the effectiveness of video-based extension to complement face-to-face extension and identify ways of improving it. The effectiveness of video-based extension in reducing the knowledge gap was assessed based on both sex and their levels of education. The objectives were: to determine the perception of piggery farmers towards the quality of the video in the pig extension video (PEV) group and to compare the level of knowledge gained on pig production management practices in the PEV with the face-to-face extension (FFE) group. A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design with two non-equivalent groups was used to assess the effectiveness of pig video-based extension (PEV) and face-to-face extension (FFE). Data were collected from 66 respondents using questionnaires. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 20 for descriptive statistics of percentages, frequencies, and means. The results showed that video-based extension has a positive influence on farmers' perception. Knowledge gain in terms of the percentage of correct responses to knowledge-based questions was high with an average of 53% for the respondents in the PEV group versus an average score of 23% for the FFE group. The male respondents had a slightly higher percentage of correct responses than the female respondents for most of the test items before and after the pig video exposure. Respondents with secondary education levels and above had a slightly higher percentage of correct responses before and after video-based extension training than the respondents with primary education levels for most of the test questions. There was an improvement in correct responses for most of the test questions after extension exposure, regardless of sex and education level. Incorporating gender and education analysis into the development and promotion of agricultural training videos acknowledges the diverse needs and capacities of the target audience, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness and impact of the training program. It was concluded that pig video-based extension was effective for influencing positive attitudes and knowledge gain of farmers if used in agricultural extension. Therefore, the video-based extension should be integrated into the dominant face-to-face extension as an effective agricultural extension approach to address the limited extension-agent-to-farmers ratio challenges.