Abstract:
Purpose: This paper assesses the knowledge sharing strategies used by members of
Gitwe Farmers’ Cooperative Society and Coffee Research Institute in Kenya. The
specific objectives of the study were to: establish the types of knowledge shared;
examine the knowledge sharing methods; investigate the extent to which the
knowledge shared is applied; analyse the factors that influence knowledge sharing
between the farmers and the research institute; and to suggest measures to enhance
knowledge sharing between them.
Study design/methodology/approach: Knowledge sharing involves the exchange
of knowledge in the form of expertise or skills among groups, friends, families,
communities or organisations. The population of the study was 2181 consisting of
coffee farmers, officials of Gitwe Farmers’ Co-operative Society and officers from
the Coffee Research Institute. The study employed a mixed methods research
approach. Qualitative data was collected through interviews while quantitative data
was collected using questionnaires. Qualitative data was analysed thematically while
quantitative data was analysed by descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for
Social Studies (SPSS).
Findings: The findings have demonstrated that the farmers and the institute currently
share knowledge through a mixed array of methods. However, several challenges
hinder the effective use of these knowledge sharing strategies. It was also observed
that currently, the symmetry of knowledge flow is lopsided since the Coffee Research
Institute shares much more than it receives from the farmers. These challenges should
be addressed if the farmers are to benefit optimally from the knowledge generated by
the Coffee Research Institute.
Originality/value: The findings of this study if adopted are likely to improve the
coffee farming methods by the farmers, improve coffee marketing strategies by the
farmers and also manage coffee berry diseases, among others.
