Assessing the Effects of Agricultural Technology Adoption on Maize Productivity in small scale Farming: A Case Study of Chongwe

The study focused on assessing the effects of agricultural technology adoption on maize productivity in small scale farming. The specific objectives of the study were to assess the training conducted on the new agricultural technology for small scale farmers in Chongwe district, to find out the type of agricultural technologies adopted for Maize, to evaluate how the adopted technologies have helped to improve productivity and to investigate the affordability of the agricultural technologies available to small scale farmers. The study considered a sample size of 100 small scale farmers in Chongwe by using a random sampling methods. The findings of the study revealed that very little training have provided to small scale farmers, the study further reveals that agricultural input innovations using bio-fortification as a program mechanism do hold promise for improving the food security of smallholder households and in the long run improving the country’s much needed maize yields. Introducing higher-yielding, more drought-resistant crop varieties might further increase household income. Further, training program do not seem to improve farmers’ incomes, particularly when they are delivered using top-down methods such as traditional agricultural extension. Of the reviewed interventions, extension services and new mechanized agricultural systems presented the largest potential improvements in outcomes. It is therefore the recommendation of this study, that extension services be modernized and that the frequency at which farmers a visited be increase to avoid losing touch of farmer trucking and further a bottom up approach be adopted.