Farmers’ Perception of Effectiveness of Agricultural Extension Agents in Anambra State, Nigeria

محورهای موضوعی : Agricultural Extension

Hyacinth Nwalieji ¹ , Nneamaka Nnabueze ²

1 - Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (Former Anambra State University), Igbariam Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria
2 - Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (Former Anambra State University), Igbariam Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria

تاریخ دریافت : 1396/08/18 تاریخ پذیرش : 1397/02/07 تاریخ انتشار : 1397/03/11

کلید واژه: effectiveness, Agricultural extension, Agents,

چکیده مقاله :

The study assessed farmers’ perception of effectiveness of agricultural extension agents in Anambra State, Nigeria. The population of the study comprised all contact farmers and extension agents in Anambra State. Multi-stage, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 200 respondents comprising 160 farmers and 40 extension agents. Data for the study were collected through the use of interview schedule and questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequency count, percentage and mean score were used in presenting and analyzing the data. The findings revealed that majority of the farmers were women, literate and the mean age was 54.27 years with an average farming experience of 18.98 years. Farmers’ number of contact with extension agents and level of education were found to make significant contribution to farmers’ perception of agricultural extension agents’ quality. The level of adoption of new technologies by farmer was generally high (5.58). Agricultural extension service in Anambra State was not effective, which implies that extension service in the State was poor and weak. The identified constraints that hinder the performance of agricultural extension agents included inadequate vehicles for transportation, poor office accommodation, poor remuneration, poor funding, high level of farmers’ illiteracy, and insufficient motivation of extension agents among others. The need for regular training of extension agents so as to develop more skills and technicalities in disseminating farm technologies to farmers was recommended.

منابع و مأخذ:

1. Adebowale, O. A. L. (2009). Information and communication technology: it’s potentials for enhanced agricultural extension service and rural development. In J.U. Agbamu, (Ed) Perspectives in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development.


2. Agbamu, J. U. (2005). Problems and prospects of agricultural extension services. In Developing Countries. In S.F. Adedoyin (Ed.), Agricultural Extension in Nigeria. Ilorin, Nigeria: Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria, pp. 159 -169.


3. Agbamu, J. U. (2006). Essentials of agricultural communication in Nigeria. Lagos, Nigeria: Mathouse Press Limited.


4. Amalu, U. C. (1998). Agricultural research and. extension delivery systems in sub-saharan Africa. Calabar, Nigeria: University of Calabar Press.


5. Asiabaka, C. C. and Owens, M. (2002). Determinants of adoptive behaviours of rural farmers in Nigeria. Proceedings of the 18th Annual Conference of Association For International Agricultural And Extension Education (AIAEE), Durban, South Africa, pp 31 -20            


6. Bonmeke, T.O.A. and Ajayi, M.T. (2006). Roles of Fadama Cooperative Societies in Extension Delivery in Ikpoba-Okha and Oredo Local Government Areas of Edo State. Journal of Extension, 1(9):95-100.


7. Benor, D. Harrison, J. Q and Barter, M. (1997). Agricultural extension; the training    and visit system. Washington, D.C: The World Bank.


8. Braima, A. A. (1992). Integrated agricultural development project planning in                            Nigeria .Gaborone, Botswana: Department of Town and Regional Planning, pp. 713-728.             


9. Chukwuji, C. O. (2006). Factor productivity and technical efficiency in cassava based food production System in Delta State, Nigeria. Ph.D Dissertation, Delta State University, Asaba, Nigeria.

10. Cleaver, M. K. (1997). A strategy to develop agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa and a focus for the World Bank. .African Technical Series, World .Bank Technical Paper No. 203, Washington, D.C.

11. Ekpere, J. A. (2014). Organization determinants of differential performance in extension service. Journal of Rural Economics and Development, 10(1): 31-38.

12. Lawal, O. L. (2000). Institutional strengthening of Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme in Post World Bank Assistance Era. B. Agriculture Research project, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

13. National Population Commission (N.P.C.) (2006). Nigeria population census figures, 2006. Nigeria: NPC Publication.

14. Obinne, C. P. O. Unpublished M.Sc Thesis. and Anyanwu, A. C. (1991). Communication factors determining adoption of improved cassava technologies in small-holder agriculture. The   Nigeria   Journal   of   Rural   Extension   and Development, 1(1): 15-23.

15. Okoye, B.C. (2006). Efficiency of small-holder cocoyam production in Anambra State, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture UmudikeNigeria.

16. Olayide, S. O., Eweka, J. A. and Bello-Osigie, V. E. (1980). Nigeria Small Farmer CARD,   U.I. for Benin - Owena, River Basin Development Authority, Benin      

17. Omotayo, A., Chiwendu, O. D. and Adebayo, K. (2001). Two decades of World Bank assisted extension services in Nigeria: Lessons and Challenges for the future. Journal of Agricultural Extension Education, 7(3), 143-xxx.

18. Onwubuya, E. A., Okporie E. O. and Nenna, M. G. (2008). Nsukka yellow pepper:                                        processing and preservation techniques among women farmers in Enugu state,  Nigeria.. African Journal of Agricultural Research 4(9): 859-863.

19. Oyaide, W. J. (1990). Influence of foreign agency financing of traditional agricultural development in Nigeria. The Nigerian Journal of Horticultural Science, 1(2): 51-55.

20. Rogers, A. (1996). Participatory Training: Using Critical Reflection on Experience in Agricultural Extension Training. Training for Agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, pp. 86-103.

21. Tologbonse, E. B. (2005). Adoption and diffusion of innovations. In S.F. Adedoyin (Ed.),   Agricultural Extension in Nigeria. AESON 2005 (pp. 28-37).

22. Yusuf, J. F.  (2000). Economic analysis of millet production in Alkaleri local Govt, of Bauchi State.Unpublished M.Sc Thesis, Abubaka Tafawa Belawa Univertsy, Nigeria.