Social economic factors influencing performance of community based organizations in agricultural extension services; a case of Bomet Central Sub-county in Kenya

Abstract

Agriculture is an important sector in the country's economy, accounting for roughly 23% of GDP and another 27% indirectly through sectoral economic linkages. It is still the main economic pillar that addresses the Vision 2030 agenda. Actors in the value chain of the agricultural sector, who directly contribute to the achievement of the Vision 2030 goals, rely on extension and advisory services provided by the government and the private sector. The performance of community organizations, especially those engaged in activities that improve the lives of households, is a very significant step towards improving social and economic livelihoods. In Bomet District, approximately 36.2% of households are classified as food insecure, indicating a substantial portion of the population does not have access to nutritious and adequate food. This problem goes beyond natural resources and requires the study of other factors such as agricultural extension. The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of member participation, funding and resource access processes on the performance of CBOs providing agricultural extension services. The study used a cross-sectional survey design and both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The target population was 1,870 members from 25 CBOs. A sample size of 327 respondents was determined using the Taro Yumane formula. Systematic random sampling was used to select the 327 sample size. Key informant interviews were selected using a purposive sampling protocol. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from 327 participants, while interview guides were used to collect qualitative data. The research topic is relevant to SDG No. 2, which is "Zero Hunger.". By studying the socio-economic factors that influence the performance of CBOs in agriculture, the research contributes to addressing the root causes of food insecurity and poverty. The study's multiple linear regression model showed that the three socioeconomic factors of community participation, community funding, and access to resources significantly predicted performance accounting for a substantial 67.1% of the variations observed in CBO performance. To improve the generalization of the findings, future research could examine the influence of socioeconomic factors on the performance of other sectors in different industries or organizational contexts.