Assessment of extension delivery services and Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of corn farmers in Camotes Islands, Philippines

Abstract

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This paper evaluated the extension delivery services and corn farmers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) toward corn production in Camotes Islands, Philippines. A sample of 232 corn farmers were interviewed for the primary data collection and analyzed using appropriate statistical tools such as descriptive metrics and correlation analysis. Results revealed that most (79.74%) of the corn farmers exhibited a moderate knowledge of corn production methods, suggesting room for educational initiatives to optimize yields. Although most farmers displayed positive attitudes (52.16%) and good practices (76.73%), concerns about environmental vulnerability, particularly drought, underscored the challenges posed by climate change. Areas like irrigation and pest control require further attention, and only the other sources of income had positively correlated (p-value < 0.05) to the level of knowledge. Demographics had minimal influence (not significant correlation; p-value > 0.05) on attitudes, while age showed a negative correlation (p-value < 0.05) with practices, and education (p-value < 0.05), farm size (p-value < 0.05), and landownership (p-value < 0.01) positively influenced practices. Conclusively, extension services must prioritize middle-aged farmers, those with larger farms or higher incomes, as they may be more receptive to new practices. The need for collaborative efforts between lead agencies was recommended to improve farmers’ access to resources, financial aid, and training opportunities and revisit policies. Equally important was empowering corn farmers’ KAP to change the agricultural landscape successfully. Policy changes like input subsidies, irrigation infrastructure, and the promotion of sustainable pest management were also suggested solutions.</span></p>