Bottlenecks of implementation of national agricultural extension policy reform on improvement of agricultural food production the case of siaya and kilifi districts, Kenya

The intent of this study was to assess the shortcomings of implementation of National Agricultural Extension Policy (NAEP) reforms on agricultural food production and poverty status among small-scale farmers in Siaya and Kilifi Districts. Ex-post facto survey design was used and three semi structured questionnaires and one focus group discussion guide were used to collect data from policy makers as key informants, administrators in extension service provision and extension workers. Findings indicated that effective implementation of NAEP was hampered by failure to legalise NAEP as a government policy document prior to implementation, the process used for capacity building the extension workers was ineffective due lack of planning by planners and this resulted in inadequate funds, the restructuring of the Ministry of Agriculture, staff movement during implementation process which destabilised the process of implementation, and absence of organizational support for NAEP implementation. The paper recommends development of policies that will ensure the Ministry of Agriculture prepare a policy that will encourage training of specialists in policy making process and induction of new officers and continuous training for serving officers to be familiar with policies that are introduced into the system. Employment of planners and training and collaboration activities intended for the purpose of ensuring effective implementation of policies should be planned for in the budget and effectively implemented. This will avoid the mistakes that are made during policy making and have adverse effect during implementation process and use of trickledown of information that delays or hampers implementation of policies.