STRENGTH OF LINKAGES BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND AGRO-ALLIED INDUSTRIES IN OGUN AND OYO STATES, NIGERIA

Abstract

The global paradigm shift to a knowledge economy for initiating and driving national development has made the Institution-Industry linkage imperative. The study examined the strength of linkages between the agricultural institutions and agro-allied industries in Ogun and Oyo States, Nigeria. Specifically, the study ascertained the demographic profile of the respondents, identified the existing types of linkages between agricultural institutions and agro-allied industries, determined the strength of the linkages, identified the factors influencing linkages between agricultural institutions and agro-allied industries, ascertained the perceived benefits of the linkages and identified the strategies necessary to enhance the linkages between Agricultural institutions and agro-allied industries. A multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting one hundred and twenty (120) respondents for the study. Interview schedule was used in data collection. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the study revealed that most of the agro-allied industries were small-scale. Majority (98.0%) of the agro-allied industries were privately owned, while most (78.6%) of the agricultural institutions were owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The result further revealed that very few (18.0%) of the agro- allied industries had special and dedicated unit for promoting and maintaining linkages while about 77% of the agricultural institutions had these special units. Majority (80.0%) of the agro-allied industries acquires research outputs through informal method and direct contact with the institution staff and researchers. The result also revealed that 88.6% of the agricultural institutions disseminate their research output through journals and conference proceedings, while about 74% of the agro-allied industries commonly engaged in collaborative students’ industrial attachment. The most engaged type of linkages by agricultural institutions was field/ industrial visit to the industry by staff and students to gain practical knowledge (77.1%). The study revealed that 55.8% of the institutions and industries had a very weak linkage. The major factors affecting agricultural institutions and agro-allied industries linkages were grouped into personnel-related factors, organizational-related factors and technical-related factors. The highest ranked perceived benefits of agricultural institutions and ago-allied industries linkage were; gives access to industry for fundamental and applied research (x̅ = 3.49) and motivates the students with (x̅ = 3.43). The major strategy for enhancing agricultural institutions and agro-allied industries linkages was improvement of funding from both parties and even the government in ensuring the sustenance of the linkages (x̅ = 2.63). There was no significant difference (t = -1.808, p ≥0.05) between the perception of agricultural institutions and agro-allied industries linkages as regards the benefits of agricultural institution and agro-allied industries linkages. There was significant relationship between the distances to agro-allied industries to the nearest agricultural institutions and the strength of the linkages of the agro-allied industries (r = 0.294, p≤ 0.05). There was significant relationship between the strength of linkage of the agricultural institutions and the distances to agro-allied industry (r= -0.271, p≤ 0.05), and the presence of special unit dedicated for linkage promotion (r=0.369, p≤ 0.05). The study recommends that funding and dedicated units for initiating linkages should be made available in the agricultural institutions, and the agro-allied industries should be orientated on the importance and need for these linkages.