LEVEL OF UTILISATION OF EXTENSION METHODS IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the Level of utilisation of extension methods in disseminating agricultural information and examine the perception of the extension agents towards the utilisation. The study also examined the feedback mechanism employed in the utilisation, determined the perceived level of competence of extension agents in the utilisation of the extension methods and identified the constraint to the utilisation. A questionnaire survey with the aid of well-structured interview schedule was conducted among the extension agents in the selected agricultural development programme. A random sampling technique was used to select a total of 120 respondents and descriptive and inferential statistics were utilised. The study shows that individual, group and mass media extension method were highly (60%) utilised. Furthermore, the respondents perceived their extent of competence in utilising the extension agents were average (50%). the study also reveals that face to face was mostly utilised as feedback mechanism for individual and group extension method while telephone is utilised for mass media extension method. Also, the extension agents in agricultural development programme Southwest, Nigeria are perceived to have a favourable perception towards the utilisation of extension methods. There were significant relationship between the years of working experience (r=0.30, p=0.01) of the respondent and level of utilisation of extension method, there were significant relationship between the perceived extent of competence (r=0.49,p=0.00) of the respondent and the level of utilisation of extension methods and there were also a significant relationship between the perception to the utilisation of extension method (r=0.27, p=0.00) by the respondent and the level of utilisation of extension methods. In conclusion, extension agents in Southwest Nigeria highly (60%) utilised extension method but were averagely (50%) competent in utilising the extension methods and some of the major constraints identified are financial limitation, poor means of transportation, inadequate resources and improper planning. Based on this conclusion, it was recommended that the Research Extension Farmer Input Linkage System (REFILS) should be empowered financially by the government through agricultural development programme so that they can be mobilised and motivated to utilise appropriate extension method to disseminate useful agricultural information to the clienteles