Opportunities and Barriers in Farmer Training Centres: Insights from Gode and Shabeley Woredas in Ethiopia’s Somali Region

Abstract

This study evaluates the performance, challenges, and opportunities of Farmer Training Centres (FTCs) in the Gode and Shabeley Woredas of the Somali Region, Ethiopia. A mixed-methods approach was employed, with data collected from 140 farmers, 15 extension agents, and supervisors through structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The findings revealed that 80% of FTCs in the study areas meet the recommended staffing levels. A significant majority of farmers (87.1% untrained, 12.9% trained) strongly disagreed with the idea that attending FTCs is a waste of time, emphasizing the perceived value of these centers in enhancing agricultural knowledge. However, 85% of untrained and 15% of trained farmers indicated that FTC services are not adequately tailored to their needs, highlighting a critical gap in service customization and information dissemination, particularly for untrained farmers. These results underscore the necessity for more inclusive and localized FTC programs. Economic constraints (mean score of 36.5) were identified as the most significant barriers to FTC operations, followed by institutional constraints (mean score of 32.6). General (23) and social (13.5) constraints were less impactful but still contributed to operational challenges. Key opportunities for improving FTCs, as identified by extension personnel, include the availability of guidelines, curricula, and modules (mean score of 4.8), sufficient extension personnel and transportation (mean score of 3.5), and strong political commitment (mean score of 2.9). Other opportunities include community participation (mean score of 2.8) and access to communication channels (mean score of 2.5). Based on these findings, the study recommends the implementation of tailored interventions to address resource limitations while leveraging existing community support. These evidence-based recommendations aim to enhance the effectiveness of FTCs in pastoral regions, which is vital for improving agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.