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Abstract
Push-pull technology (PPT) is currently and widely promoted as a control measure for
stemborers, Striga weed and soil fertility improvement in maize fields in western
Kenya in order to improve on cereal production. Since it is a new and relatively
knowledge-intensive technology, access information about its efficacy is critical for
maximum adoption and continued use. Given that different technologies may need
different pathways for adoption, this study sought to identify the most effective
dissemination pathway(s) for scaling up the technology among many farmers. A two
limit Tobit regression was used to analyze data from 491 respondents randomly selected
from four districts in western Kenya. The results indicated that chronologically field
days (FD), farmer field schools (FFS) and farmer teachers (FT), had the greatest
impact on the probability that a farmer in the study area would adopt PPT and at
enhanced intensity of adoption. Efforts to disseminate PPT should therefore target the use of demonstrations through field days to intensify adoption. FT and FFS where
appropriate can be used as alternative pathways to reinforce extension messages.