Attitudes and Perception of Corrupt Practices among Public Officials in the Agricultural Sector in Southwestern Nigeria

Corruption constitutes greater challenge threatening the wellbeing of our economy more than other social malaise, yet it has not been a major focus of social research. Attitudes and perception of corrupt practices among public officers in the agricultural sector in southwestern Nigeria was therefore investigated. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 174 public officers from Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) and Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MANR) from Oyo, Ekiti and Osun States. Data was collected using structured questionnaire on respondents’ perception and attitude to different forms of corruption. Data were summarized using frequency counts, percentages, mean and charts. Majority (89.0%) of respondents indicated favourable attitude to influence peddling, patronage (78.0%), pork barreling (70.0%), private use of government resources (65.0%) and bureaucratic conflict of interest (56.0%). At least 50.0% of respondents from each of ADP and MANR showed favourable attitude to corrupt practices. More than half (52.3%) of the respondents had favourable perception of corruption. Majority of the respondents from ADP (52.4%) and MANR (52.2%) indicated a favourable perception of corruption. No significant difference existed in attitude (t=0.954; p>0.05) and perception (t=0.787; p>0.05) of corruption between respondents from the ADP and MANR. A veritable culture of corruption and a high level of tolerance for most forms of corruption prevailed among the public officials in the agricultural sector in southwestern Nigeria. Public orientation using the media and other public enlightenment strategies in order to engender attitudinal change among corrupt public officials should be pursued as a matter of national emergency. Keywords: Perception of corruption, corrupt attitudes, agricultural sector, southwestern Nigeria

Analysis of Entrepreneurial Skills Development through Farm Practical Training Programmes of University of Ibadan and University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

Farm Practical Training Programme is an important component of the curricula of many tertiary institutions basically for graduates to gain proficiency in practical agriculture. This paper aims at examining the extent to which the programmes of two universities have met the entrepreneurial skills development goal and the perception ofparticipants on how much the programmes have affected their orientation towards practical agriculture. Using simple random sampling technique, 143 out of 569 students from University of Ibadan and University of Agriculture Abeokuta were used to obtain data. It was found that though, most trainees somehow appreciated the programme, many of them still prefer career in non-agricultural establishments. There was clear indication that studying agriculture does not amount to aspiring towards career in practical agriculture. Hypotheses tested did not show significant difference in the students' perceptions in the two universities at 5% level of significance. There was also no significant relationship between age, sex and respondents' background and their perceptions of the progrmme. However, about 32% would choose career in practical farming, given appropriate motivation and incentives. It is recommended that a special degree programme be mountedfor this cadre oftrainees

Lead Farmer Extension Approach and Sustainable Extension Service Delivery in Oyo State, Nigeria

Over the years, provision of extension and advisory services has been the main thrust of both the public and private extension services in Nigeria. Meanwhile, the lead farmer extension approach has been deployed for cost effectiveness, broader reach and sustainability. The utility value of this approach needs to be empirically established. This study therefore examined the extent to which the approach has achieved the intended objectives among randomly sampled maize farmers in Iseyin and Saki-West Local Government Areas (LGAs). Interview schedule and focus group discussion among farmer groups were used for the study. Lead farmer extension approach was cost and time effective vis-a-vis the number of farmers reached and the achieved outcome. Almost 70% of the lead farmers encountered late arrivals and impatience from group members during step-down training activities while all of them complained of insufficient funds for refreshment. About 65% of the farmers engaged in selective adoption of the training items owing to various reasons. There was also a significant difference between the knowledge level of the lead farmers and their respective group members while the group members’ assessment of their respective lead farmers’ performance was high. The study concluded that this extension approach was effective and could serve to complement the efforts of extension workers in the state

Commodity Alliance Model – An Option for Advancing Private and Commercial Extension Service Delivery in Nigeria

Despite improved technologies and several extension approaches being tried in Nigeria, arable croppers’ productivity has been consistently low. Moreover farmers are usually not totally enthusiastic about sustained use of proven technologies due to unfavorable economic and policy environment within which they operate. More than ever before, farmers are being careful to produce only what they have been assured market for. Meanwhile, processors and produce-buyers are in short supply of raw materials. The government operated public extension tends to give much attention to production and less to post harvest handling and marketing. To induce farmers to produce optimally, effective innovative approaches to production and marketing that ensure adequate value addition and ultimate remunerative price for farmers’ produce would have to be in place. The presidential initiatives on cassava and rice have expanded the markets such that producers need inducement and special assistance from relevant agri-service providers in marketing their produce. To derive the desired impact of cassava initiative on the national economy, an efficient and well-integrated production and marketing system is necessary to assure a steady supply of cassava products to domestic industries and European markets. It is also in the same vein that rice producers need to be more structured in their production agenda and be assured of their produce markets. One of the innovative approaches being applied to boost cassava and rice production in Nigeria is the use of groups of out-growers. Several lessons have been learnt from two different cases in contract farming. The lessons culminated in an innovative private extension model where independent extension agency brokers an effective production and marketing environment for income yielding commodities. Based on the lessons learnt from selected projects, the Farm and Infrastructure Foundation (FIF) has packaged a strengthened commodity – alliance model for sourcing raw materials for agro-based companies using out-growers in Nigeria. In this innovative model FIF as an independent organization creates a platform for effective linkage of markets and farmers for each commodity, and integrating them in terms of fair price determination, information flow and issues resolution. The FIF model will create an in-road for strengthening private extension practice in Nigeria

Commodity Alliance Model – An Option for Advancing Private and Commercial Extension Service Delivery in Nigeria

Despite improved technologies and several extension approaches being tried in Nigeria, arable croppers’ productivity has been consistently low. Moreover farmers are usually not totally enthusiastic about sustained use of proven technologies due to unfavorable economic and policy environment within which they operate. More than ever before, farmers are being careful to produce only what they have been assured market for. Meanwhile, processors and produce-buyers are in short supply of raw materials. The government operated public extension tends to give much attention to production and less to post harvest handling and marketing. To induce farmers to produce optimally, effective innovative approaches to production and marketing that ensure adequate value addition and ultimate remunerative price for farmers’ produce would have to be in place. The presidential initiatives on cassava and rice have expanded the markets such that producers need inducement and special assistance from relevant agri-service providers in marketing their produce. To derive the desired impact of cassava initiative on the national economy, an efficient and well-integrated production and marketing system is necessary to assure a steady supply of cassava products to domestic industries and European markets. It is also in the same vein that rice producers need to be more structured in their production agenda and be assured of their produce markets. One of the innovative approaches being applied to boost cassava and rice production in Nigeria is the use of groups of out-growers. Several lessons have been learnt from two different cases in contract farming. The lessons culminated in an innovative private extension model where independent extension agency brokers an effective production and marketing environment for income yielding commodities. Based on the lessons learnt from selected projects, the Farm and Infrastructure Foundation (FIF) has packaged a strengthened commodity – alliance model for sourcing raw materials for agro-based companies using out-growers in Nigeria. In this innovative model FIF as an independent organization creates a platform for effective linkage of markets and farmers for each commodity, and integrating them in terms of fair price determination, information flow and issues resolution. The FIF model will create an in-road for strengthening private extension practice in Nigeria

Analysis of Entrepreneurial Skills Development through Farm Practical Training Programmes of University of Ibadan and University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

Farm Practical Training Programme is an important component of the curricula of many tertiary institutions basically for graduates to gain proficiency in practical agriculture. This paper aims at examining the extent to which the programmes of two universities have met the entrepreneurial skills development goal and the perception ofparticipants on how much the programmes have affected their orientation towards practical agriculture. Using simple random sampling technique, 143 out of 569 students from University of Ibadan and University of Agriculture Abeokuta were used to obtain data. It was found that though, most trainees somehow appreciated the programme, many of them still prefer career in non-agricultural establishments. There was clear indication that studying agriculture does not amount to aspiring towards career in practical agriculture. Hypotheses tested did not show significant difference in the students' perceptions in the two universities at 5% level of significance. There was also no significant relationship between age, sex and respondents' background and their perceptions of the progrmme. However, about 32% would choose career in practical farming, given appropriate motivation and incentives. It is recommended that a special degree programme be mountedfor this cadre oftrainees

Linking Maize Farmers to Market: A Case Study of Private Extension service in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

This paper presents the activities of a private extension outfit along maize value chain in Ogun state, Nigeria. The study reveals that the outfit performs functions that are not limited to knowledge transfer but as well as building integration and interaction among the diverse actors. The study further identified crucial performance indicators to evaluate success and ensure sustainability of the actors. Challenges such as breach of trust and sharp practices were also identified as obstacles to this approach. Meanwhile, farmers were able to experience improved linkage to market as a result of the well coordinated maize value chain. These findings had therefore demonstrated how private extension services in Nigeria are responding proactively to the pressure of changing roles and additional responsibilities of extension by rendering services that are not fully covered in public extension services.Keywords: Private extension, Out-growers, Maize farmers

Linking maize farmers to market: a case study of private extension service in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

The challenges of feeding the world and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for small-scale farmers remain greater today than ever before. This is largely because efficient market systems and better coordinated commodity chains are rarely in place. There is therefore the need for shift from production-oriented agricultural extension services towards market orientation involving multi-stakeholder partnerships. This study therefore investigated how private extension services in Nigeria are responding to these needs. Using an explorative case study, this paper presents the activities of a private extension outfit along maize value chain in Ogun state, Nigeria. The study revealed that the outfit performs functions that are not limited to knowledge transfer but as well building integration and interaction among the diverse actors. The study further identified crucial performance indicators to evaluate success and ensure sustainability of the actors. Challenges such as breach of trust and sharp practices were also identified as obstacles to this approach. Meanwhile, the farmers were able to experience improved linkage to market as a result of the well coordinated maize value chain. These findings had therefore demonstrated on how private extension services in Nigeria is responding proactively to the pressure of changing roles and additional responsibilities on extension by rendering services that are not fully covered in public extension services

Linking maize farmers to market: a case study of private extension service in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

The challenges of feeding the world and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for small-scale farmers remain greater today than ever before. This is largely because efficient market systems and better coordinated commodity chains are rarely in place. There is therefore the need for shift from production-oriented agricultural extension services towards market orientation involving multi-stakeholder partnerships. This study therefore investigated how private extension services in Nigeria are responding to these needs. Using an explorative case study, this paper presents the activities of a private extension outfit along maize value chain in Ogun state, Nigeria. The study revealed that the outfit performs functions that are not limited to knowledge transfer but as well building integration and interaction among the diverse actors. The study further identified crucial performance indicators to evaluate success and ensure sustainability of the actors. Challenges such as breach of trust and sharp practices were also identified as obstacles to this approach. Meanwhile, the farmers were able to experience improved linkage to market as a result of the well coordinated maize value chain. These findings had therefore demonstrated on how private extension services in Nigeria is responding proactively to the pressure of changing roles and additional responsibilities on extension by rendering services that are not fully covered in public extension services