Effect of Information Communication Technology (ICT) on agricultural information access among extension officers in North West Province South Africa

This study determined the effect of Information Communication Technology (ICT) on agricultural information access among extension officers in North West Province South Africa. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 169 officers from which data were collected with structured and face validated questionnaire. Fourteen statements were perceived by officers as having an effect on improving information access. Significant determinants of the effect of ICT on information access were education (t= 2.61, p = 0.11); constraints to ICT tools (t= 2.60, p = .010), use of ICT tools (t = 4.67, p = .000) and e-readiness (t= -3.01, p =.003).Keywords: Information Communication Technology, information access, extension officers, agricultural informatio

Supervisors’ and subordinates’ perception of the Impact of Botswana College of Agriculture training programme on Graduates’ Job behaviour.

This study was a descriptive survey, which ascertained supervisors and subordinates perception of the impact of Botswana College of Agriculture training programme on graduates’ job behaviour. The study was carried out in the Ministry of Agriculture, Gaborone, Botswana, which is composed of six departments. All BCA graduates employed in each department, their supervisors and subordinates were the population of the study. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 34 graduates and thecorresponding supervisors (27) and subordinates (19) were selected in order to reduce response errors due to bias and to triangulate the responses. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection and were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 using frequencies counts, percentages and one-way analysisof variance. The results show that there is male dominance among graduates, supervisors and subordinates. Majority of graduates (53%) are between 26-35 years while for the supervisors the range is 36-45 years however, subordinates are in the same range as graduates. At least 50 percent graduates indicated moderate competence in 27 out of 30work based competencies. Supervisors indicated that at least 50 percent of the graduates have moderate competence in 21 out of the 30 listed activities while subordinates indicated that at least 50 percent of the graduates were rated to have moderate competence in 19 out of the 30 activities. In terms of meeting the expectations of supervisors andsubordinates at least 70 percent of the graduates indicated that they meet expectations of their supervisors and subordinates in 12 out of the listed activities. Supervisors indicated that at least 70 percent of the graduates meet their expectations only in 8 out of the listed activities while subordinates rated that at least 70 percent of the graduates meet theirexpectations in 5 out of the 30 listed activities .One-way analysis of variance shows that a significance difference exists (F = 3.81, p < 0.05) in perception of the impact of Botswana College of Agriculture training programme on graduates’ job behaviour among graduates, supervisors and subordinates. The mean scores show that graduates havethe highest mean 98.29 while subordinates have the lowest mean of 86.94. It therefore implies that the rating of graduates by their supervisors and subordinates is lower than that of the graduates and the graduate ratings can also not be considered as valid because of the shortcomings associated with self rating. There is need to improve the trainingprogramme such that graduates can be rated independently as competent individuals

Blindness in Tuberous Sclerosis: A Case Report

Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait with variable penetrance characterised by glial cell tumor which arises from the cerebral and the retina. Blindness in association with Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is rare. When visual loss occurs it may be associated with hamartomas from retinal or optic nerve involvement or from intracranial (brain) tumours that affect either the part of the brain that processes visual information or from optic nerve damage following raised intracranial pressure. Very few cases of TS with blindness have been reported globally. Deterioration in academic performance might be the first pointer to the visual impairment. We report a case of a 13 year old girl who presented with increasing number of facial rash over an 11 years period, recurrent headache and deteriorating academic performance of 1 year and loss of vision of 6 months with a recent episode of convulsion. Similar skin rashes without other associated symptoms were noticed on the mother and one of the younger siblings. She was a Tanner stage one in development. She had facial angio fibromas, shagreen patches over the left hypochondria, back regions and face. Ophthalmic evaluation showed a visual acuity of being able to count fingers at not more than one meter from the face and only perception of light in the right and left eye respectively, both eyes had brisk pupillary activities, good mydriasis and clear media. The retinal and optic nerve head appeared normal in the right eye whereas in the left eye was a huge tuberous hamartoma of the optic disc and macular as well as generalised vascular occlusion and subretinal fluid. The Computerized tomography (CT) scan showed an Intraventricular tumour, with calcification within the tumours and subependymal. There was associated obstructive hydrocephalus. Patient was managed by a multi disciplinary team of ophthalmologists, neurosurgeons and radiologists, coordinated by a paediatrician.Conclusion: The diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) was based on the lesions found on clinical examination, imaging, and pathologic studies. The blindness was multi-factorial in cause including intracranial, retinal and optic nerve tumours. Comprehensive medical history, detailed physical examinations and neuroimaging study are essential in making a diagnosis of TSC. Our patient was mis-diagnosed at various health facilities for many years. This delay in making appropriate diagnosis and instituting treatment could have contributed to the eventual outcome.Keywords: Tuberous Sclerosis, Blindness, Deteriorating Academic Performanc

Job burnout and coping strategies among extension agents in south western Nigeria

The need to maintain a non-mineral dependent economy and daunting food import bills have been the drive for the provision of extension services, which is dependent on motivated extension work force.. Extension personnel will not stay motivated under circumstances where the risk of job burnout is high. A simple random technique was used to select 120 extension agents from 328. Data were collected with a structuredquestionnaire (reliability coefficient of 0.85) and were analyzed with frequency counts, percentages one-way analysis of variance and multiple regressions. The result shows that 68% of the agents are males 85% married; 50% are above 40 years and 66% have at least a BSc degree. Burnout symptoms manifest mostly as depression (48%), insomnia (40%), headaches (43%), and weight loss (44%). Popular copingstrategies are keeping positive attitude at all times, setting self-realistic goals, and maintaining healthy relationship with co-workers. A significant difference exists in burnout symptoms experienced across the states (F = 5.71, df 3,117 p &lt; 0.05). Significant determinants are age (t = 3.61), Number of children (t = 4.36), and coping strategy (t = -4.71).The study recommends that extension agents should be young, dynamic, maintain manageable family size and be exposed to different techniques tocope with burnout symptoms

Effect of Nomadists‟ Uncontrolled grazing on livelihood activities in Oyo State Nigeria

The study assessed the effect of Nomadic pastoralists uncontrolled grazing which led to conflicts on the livelihood activities of agro-pastoralists in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State. Fifty percent of the agro pastoralists households (III) in the study area were randomly selected and simple technique was used to sample one male and one female household heads from each of the households, totaling two hundred and twenty two respondents. The agro-pastoralists personal characteristics, livelihood activities and accessibility to resources before and after occurrence of conflicts due to nomadic pastoralists uncontrolled grazing were determined. Findings showed that majority of the agropastoralists had no formal education. The nomadic pastoralists uncontrolled grazing led to conflicts between agropastoralists and crop farmers. Majority of the agro pastoralists assumed that the aggressive attribute of the nomadic pastoralists was the major cause of their uncontrolled grazing, which consequently made agro pastoralists to suffer in numerous ways. Measures to prevent future occurrence of conflict were recommended. Such as enactment of government policy to check the nomadic pastoralists uncontrolled grazing and improvement to nomadic education programme as to provide opportunities for diverse livelihood activities to the pastoralists

Principal Components Analysis of Job Burnout and Coping Strategies among Extension Officers in North West Province South Africa: Implications for Female Officers

The component structure of a 44-item scale measuring different aspects of job burnout incidence and 31-item scale on coping strategies were  investigated, among extension officers in North West Province, South Africa. Items on job burnout and coping strategies s were measured at interval level and analyzed with Principal Component Analysis. From the job burnout items 10 components were extracted to show symptoms of job burnout incidence and 8 components for use of coping strategies against job burnout among extension officers. The key component structure of job burnout were feelings of disgust, insomnia, headaches, weight loss or gain feeling of omniscient, pain of unexplained origin, hopelessness, agitation and workaholics, while the factor structure of coping strategies were  development of self realistic picture, retaining hope, asking for help when it’s needed, development of structural and personal support system, not getting easily get worked up, willingness to accept counseling when  needed, and development of a sense of organization involvement. Significant determinants of job burnout were feelings of disgust (t = 3.82), insomnia (t = 1.80), feeling of omniscient (t = 2.79), and workaholics (t = 3.89), while determinants of coping strategies were retaining hope (t = 6.16), willingness to accept counseling when needed (t = 3.39), and development of a sense of organization involvement (t = 2.05). The study has highlighted areas to help extension mangers understand and manage their workforce in terms of job burnout and use of appropriate coping strategies.Key words: job burnout, job satisfaction, job performance, extension officers, South Afric

<smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"><smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"> Indigenous labour sourcing: Subsistence farming and poverty status among farmers in Nigeria </smarttagtype></smarttagtype>

478-484 The paper examines the concepts of farm renting, farm pledging and sharecropping as correlates of poverty status among farmers in Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select farmers in Ondo state, where the practice of these concepts predominates. Data were collected through structured interview schedules and data analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. One-way analysis of variance for the six categories of the respondents on expenditure, poverty alleviating strategies and income from other activities shows that there is a significant difference among the respondents for the variables examined. The implication of these findings is that poverty alleviation programmes should focus the types of income generating activities examined in the study. </smarttagtype

Influence of Personal Characteristics on Job Performance Among Extension Agents and Agricultural Researchers in South Western Nigeria

This paper examined the influence of personal characteristics of extension agents and researchers on their job performance. The results indicate that extension agents had a mean of 36. 5 years with majority being male and married as well as having HND certificates. They have also spent between 21 and 30 years in service. Of all the linkage activities, extension agents frequently carried out joint problem identification and evaluation reports. Findings with respect to researchers showed a mean age of 37.4 years and 71.5 per cent were male and married. About 45 per cent had Masters Degree and above. Only 23 per cent are currently studying for higher degrees while 32 per cent had spent between 21 and 30 years in office. Researchers are mostly involved in joint problem identification (73.8 per cent) with extension agent and evaluation meetings (67 per cent). The result of the Chi-Square analysis shows that educational level (&#967;2 = 25 df10, p < 0.05) and job tenure (&#967;2 = 23.72 df6, p < 0.05) affect job performance among researchers while for extension agents gender (&#967;2 = 7.94 df2, p < 0.05), marital status (&#967;2 = 16 df6, p < 0.05), educational level(&#967;2 = 27.86 df10, p < 0.05) and job tenure (&#967;2 = 25.52 df6, p < 0.05) are related to the job performance. The paper concludes that personal characteristics exert a lot of influence on the job performance of extension agents and researchers. Ce papier a examiné l\'influence des caractéristiques personnelles des vulgarisateurs et des chercheurs sur leur performance du travail. Les resultats indiquent que les vulgarisateurs avaient un moyen de 36.5 ans et la majorité sont des sexes maseulins, mariés et possèdent le certificat national du diplôme supérieure. Ils ont également passé entre 21 et 30 ans en service. Parmi toutes les activités de rélation, les vulgarisateurs fréquemment entament le problème conjugué de l\'identification et de l\'évaluation des réportages. Dans le cas des chercheurs, on a remarqué que l\'âge moyen était 37.4 ans et 71.5% étaient des sexes masculins et mariés. 45% d\'eux possèdent le minimum des maîtrises. Il n\'y a que 23% d\'entre eux qui apprennent toujours pour les licences supérieures alors que 32% ont passé entre 21 et 30 ans en service. Les chercheurs s\'occupent normalement du problème conjugué d\'identification (73.8%) avec les vulgarisateurs et des réunions d\'évaluation (67%). Les résultats des analyses chi-carrées indiquent que le niveau pédagogique (&#967;2 = 23.72 df6, p < 0.05) a un effet sur la performance parmi les chercheurs alors que dans le cas des chercheurs, sexe (&#967;2 = 7.94df2, p < 0.05) situation familiale (&#967;2 = 16 df6, p < 0.05) le niveau pédagogique (&#967;2 = 27.86 df10, p < 0.05) et période du travail (&#967;2 = 25.52 df6, p < 0.05) sont considérablement liés à la performance du travail. Le papier conclu que les caractéristiques personnelles exercent beaucoup d\'influences sur la performance du travail des vulgarisa teurs et des chercheurs. Keywords: Personal characteristics, job performance, extension agents, researchers, south western Nigeria. Agricultural and Food Science Journal of Ghana Vol. 6 2007 pp. 431-44

Agricultural Education and the Challenges of Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in Developing Countries: A Nigerian Case Study

The ultimate aim of any meaningful educational activity is palpable value addition to the quality of life of the beneficiaries and the society and not the acquisition of a certificate per se. There is an apparent and bothersome tendency for stakeholders in the education system to lay disproportionate emphasis on ‘passing examinations’ and obtaining certificates to the detriment of acquisition of useful skills that are necessary for enhancement living standards of inhabitants of developing countries. This paper examines agricultural education in relation to the need to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development in Nigeria. Nigeria currently has the largest agricultural education system in Africa. Specifically, the paper presents an overview of contemporary agricultural education in Nigeria, the current problems and prospects of agricultural production, and the connection between agriculture, poverty, and sustainable development in Nigeria. Furthermore, the paper argues for a far-reaching revision of higher agricultural education core curriculum and concludes that a more virile and realistic agricultural education system (incorporating formal and non-formal sub-systems) is imperative for the attainment of significant poverty reduction and sustainable development in Nigeria. Finally, a robust use of information and communication technology was recommended to enhance the relevance of the agricultural education system

Extension systems in Southern African countries: A review

This paper reviews extension systems in selected southern African countries with a view of identifying the features of the systems and how they have been able to reach their target audience. Some of the features are use of committees for research and extension linkages, involvement of NGOs and private sector, the use development programmes to improve rural areas, extensive grassroots coverage, use of ICT, high involvement of farmers in extension planning, potential for effective programme implementation, and effective setting of extension administration units.. The paper recommends that extension administrators, and policy makers should review the extension systems in each country with the realities and challenges of extension in the 21st century