The Synergy Between Indigenous Learning Methods and Extension Methods in Agriculture in the Fielmuo Traditional Area, Upper West Region of Ghana

Abstract

This study investigated how socio-economic factors influence the acquisition of indigenous knowledge and how extension system adapt its teaching methods to the indigenous learning methods of rural farmers in the Fielmuo Traditional Area in the Upper West Region. The study which was a descriptive survey was carried out in the Fielmuo Traditional Area where five communities were randomly selected. Information was collected from hundred farmers and six Agricultural Extension Agents who were also randomly selected using interview schedule. Key informants interview was also used to collect additional relevant information from ten knowledgeable elderly farmers who were not part of the target population. Data were analyzed into frequency counts, percentages, means and Chi Square test using SPSS software (version 16.0 for Windows). Socio-economic factors such as age, sex, education and religion were investigated and it was proven that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between age and amount of knowledge acquired on the cultural practices and between education and the cultural practices. There was however, a significant difference between sex and knowledge acquisition on singing of dirges, playing of drums and xylophone (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between religion and indigenous knowledge acquisition (p > 0.05). The study also revealed that there was a weak relationship between extension teaching methods and indigenous learning methods.

Keywords: Socio-economic, tacit knowledge, xylophone, proverbs, community