Perceived Effects of Professionalization of Extension Services by Public and Private Agents in South West Nigeria

Agricultural extension in Nigeria is at the verge of aspiring to a higher level of professionalism which will involve the accreditation, registration and certification of extension service providers by a recognized and legalized professional body in line with the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) mandate. This study thus specifically analyse the perceived effects of professionalization of extension services by extension agents in South West Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from three hundred and one (301) public agents and fifty-five (55) private agents that were selected through a stratified random sampling technique. The findings revealed that majority of the public and private extension agents were married, live in their job location, have a rural background with majority of them however not involved in pursuing a higher degree. The public and private agents had basic knowledge about the concept of professionalization and exhibited a favourable attitude towards professionalizing extension services. T-test analysis revealed significant differences in the average number of children, years of experience, farmers group covered and distance to clients travelled by the public and private agents. Extension agents in both organizations exhibited a positive perception of the effects of professionalization of extension services in enhancing and improving delivery. Regression analysis revealed that variables such as the extension agents’ knowledge, attitude, years of experience, educational qualification and rural-urban background were significant determinants of their perceived effects of professionalization on service delivery. It was recommended that there is the need for extension agencies to support continuous professional development of extension agents through trainings and acquisition of relevant higher degrees that will help to enhance their knowledge thus upgrading their professionalization-readiness status. This will facilitate the smooth implementation of professionalization in the area for efficient service delivery

Perceived Effects of Professionalization of Extension Services by Public and Private Agents in South West Nigeria

Agricultural extension in Nigeria is at the verge of aspiring to a higher level of professionalism which will involve the accreditation, registration and certification of extension service providers by a recognized and legalized professional body in line with the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) mandate. This study thus specifically analyse the perceived effects of professionalization of extension services by extension agents in South West Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from three hundred and one (301) public agents and fifty-five (55) private agents that were selected through a stratified random sampling technique. The findings revealed that majority of the public and private extension agents were married, live in their job location, have a rural background with majority of them however not involved in pursuing a higher degree. The public and private agents had basic knowledge about the concept of professionalization and exhibited a favourable attitude towards professionalizing extension services. T-test analysis revealed significant differences in the average number of children, years of experience, farmers group covered and distance to clients travelled by the public and private agents. Extension agents in both organizations exhibited a positive perception of the effects of professionalization of extension services in enhancing and improving delivery. Regression analysis revealed that variables such as the extension agents’ knowledge, attitude, years of experience, educational qualification and rural-urban background were significant determinants of their perceived effects of professionalization on service delivery. It was recommended that there is the need for extension agencies to support continuous professional development of extension agents through trainings and acquisition of relevant higher degrees that will help to enhance their knowledge thus upgrading their professionalization-readiness status. This will facilitate the smooth implementation of professionalization in the area for efficient service delivery

Knowledge of Extension Agents on Climate Smart Agricultural Initiatives in South West Nigeria

This study examined the knowledge level of extension agents on six classes of climate smart adaptation initiatives (CSAI). A multi-stage sampling procedure was utilized to collect data from 277 agents in South-West Nigeria with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Data were descriptively analysed using frequency counts, percentages and means. The result showed that extension agents were knowledgeable on crop-mix (56.3%) and tillage-smart (53.4%) related initiatives with more than half of them scoring above the mean benchmark. However, they had a low knowledge level on the majority of the water management (59.2%), fossil-burning (94.2%), soil (75.8%), ICT and other adaptive initiatives (98.9%) as the majority of them scored below the mean benchmark for each of these categories. Seminars and workshops should be provided by extension organizations for these agents to upgrade their knowledge on these initiatives, thus positioning them to effectively be able to render needed advisories to farmers. This will equip farmers to be adept in responding adequately to managing climate change risks and also scale-up their use of CSAI

Knowledge of Extension Agents on Climate Smart Agricultural Initiatives in South West Nigeria

This study examined the knowledge level of extension agents on six classes of climate smart adaptation initiatives (CSAI). A multi-stage sampling procedure was utilized to collect data from 277 agents in South-West Nigeria with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Data were descriptively analysed using frequency counts, percentages and means. The result showed that extension agents were knowledgeable on crop-mix (56.3%) and tillage-smart (53.4%) related initiatives with more than half of them scoring above the mean benchmark. However, they had a low knowledge level on the majority of the water management (59.2%), fossil-burning (94.2%), soil (75.8%), ICT and other adaptive initiatives (98.9%) as the majority of them scored below the mean benchmark for each of these categories. Seminars and workshops should be provided by extension organizations for these agents to upgrade their knowledge on these initiatives, thus positioning them to effectively be able to render needed advisories to farmers. This will equip farmers to be adept in responding adequately to managing climate change risks and also scale-up their use of CSAI

Knowledge of Extension Agents on Climate Smart Agricultural Initiatives in South West Nigeria

This study examined the knowledge level of extension agents on six classes of climate smart adaptation initiatives (CSAI). A multi-stage sampling procedure was utilized to collect data from 277 agents in South-West Nigeria with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Data were descriptively analysed using frequency counts, percentages and means. The result showed that extension agents were knowledgeable on crop-mix (56.3%) and tillage-smart (53.4%) related initiatives with more than half of them scoring above the mean benchmark. However, they had a low knowledge level on the majority of the water management (59.2%), fossil-burning (94.2%), soil (75.8%), ICT and other adaptive initiatives (98.9%) as the majority of them scored below the mean benchmark for each of these categories. Seminars and workshops should be provided by extension organizations for these agents to upgrade their knowledge on these initiatives, thus positioning them to effectively be able to render needed advisories to farmers. This will equip farmers to be adept in responding adequately to managing climate change risks and also scale-up their use of CSAI

Food Security Situation among South African Urban Agricultural Households: Evidence from Limpopo Province

The challenges posed by risk factors in the urban agricultural sector have been an issue of general concern among various stakeholders and the international communities. This concern is attributable to the negative impacts of food insecurity risk on urban agriculture and socio-economic development of South Africa. This study analyzed the food security situation among urban agricultural households of Limpopo Province using a well-structured questionnaire for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that male respondents were more in the study area with an average age of 46 years. Public tap water was the most used source in the study area with an average monthly income of R 2668.75 recorded. In addition, an average of R1284.75 is expended on food on monthly basis by the agricultural households. Finally, some implications for national food security were drawn from the overall result of the study. It was suggested among other things that interest-free credit should be made available to small scale farmers to enable them to access improved risk (such as health, drought etc.) management technologies. This will help them to contribute more meaningfully to national food security through enhanced productivity

Knowledge and adoption of water use efficiency techniques among women irrigators: evidence from South Africa

The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge and adoption of water use efficiency techniques among women irrigators in the North West Province, South Africa. In this study, ex-post facto designed was used with a sample size of 108 farmers interviewed from the list obtained from the Department of Rural Environment and Agricultural Development (Farmer Support and Development – extension officers). Data collected was analysed using frequency counts, percentages, means, standard deviation and probit regression model. The findings revealed that majority of women irrigators were above 40 years of age, had secondary level of education, married and had a household size of 4-6 members. Majority of the women involved in irrigation farming were allocated land by tribal authorities with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture. Women irrigators in the study area were mostly aware of water use efficiency techniques such as crop rotation (93.5%), application of manure and fertilizer (92.6%) and terracing techniques (78.7%). The water use efficiency techniques adopted in the schemes are: crop rotation (78.8%), application of manure and fertilizer (78.8%) and cover crops (47.2%). The farmers were highly knowledgeable on mulching (91.7%), water harvesting (88.9%) and weed control (86.1%) while the most common constraint faced by women farmers on water use efficiency is lack of information (92.6%). Probit regression model revealed that the significant determinants for adoption of water use efficiency techniques include membership of farmers’ groups, frequency of extension visits, existence of water tariffs, payment of tariffs, age, farm size and number of plot. The study recommends that extension services be strengthened in order to improve the knowledge on water use efficiency techniques among farmers

Food Security Situation among South African Urban Agricultural Households: Evidence from Limpopo Province

The challenges posed by risk factors in the urban agricultural sector have been an issue of general concern among various stakeholders and the international communities. This concern is attributable to the negative impacts of food insecurity risk on urban agriculture and socio-economic development of South Africa. This study analyzed the food security situation among urban agricultural households of Limpopo Province using a well-structured questionnaire for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that male respondents were more in the study area with an average age of 46 years. Public tap water was the most used source in the study area with an average monthly income of R2668.75 recorded. In addition, an average of R1284.75 is expended on food on monthly basis by the agricultural households. Finally, some implications for national food security were drawn from the overall result of the study. It was suggested among other things that interest-free credit should be made available to small-scale farmers to enable them to access improved risk (such as health, drought etc.) management technologies. This will help them to contribute more meaningfully to national food security through enhanced productivity

Adoption of Bio-security Measures against Avian-Influenza Outbreaks among Poultry Farmers in Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract The study examined the adoption of selected bio-security measures against avian-influenza (HPAI-A/H5N1) outbreaks among poultry farmers in Jigawa State, Nigeria. A total of 120 respondents selected through a multistage sampling procedure were used for the study. The study revealed that the majority (92.5%) of the respondents were males, with a mean age of 24 years and an average household size of 5 persons. More than half (58.3%) of the poultry farmers have been exposed to one form of formal education or the other, had average farming experience of 13 years while their mean monthly income was N26, 075.00. Also, the majority (91.7%) of the respondents had an average flock size of about 411 birds, were members of a social group (84.2%) and had no extension contact (84.2%). The most prominent sources of awareness on Avian Influenza were; Co-farmers/farmers group (=3.711), followed by Radio programme and marketers of poultry products (M=3.523). Furthermore, the study revealed that there was high level of adoption on biosecurity measures of segregation and traffic control (M=2.820), medium level of adoption for cleaning (M=2.440) and low level of adoption for disinfection of the standard bio-security components (M=1.290). There was a significant relationship between some socio-economic characteristics (age, average monthly income, farming experience and membership of social group) and adoption of bio-security measures of poultry farmers. The highly severe constraints of the poultry farmers were poor extension/veterinary contact, lack of Buffer Areas around the farm site and inadequate access to fund.  Provision of accessible credit facilities, pro-active extension services with continuous training and constant veterinary services for poultry farmers in the study area towards increased capability to prevent and eradicate the negative effect of this acute and highly contagious viral disease on their means of livelihood thus ensuring an improved and sustainable poultry production. Keywords: Adoption of bio-security, avian-influenza, outbreak, poultry farmers

Adoption of Bio-security Measures against Avian-Influenza Outbreaks among Poultry Farmers in Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract The study examined the adoption of selected bio-security measures against avian-influenza (HPAI-A/H5N1) outbreaks among poultry farmers in Jigawa State, Nigeria. A total of 120 respondents selected through a multistage sampling procedure were used for the study. The study revealed that the majority (92.5%) of the respondents were males, with a mean age of 24 years and an average household size of 5 persons. More than half (58.3%) of the poultry farmers have been exposed to one form of formal education or the other, had average farming experience of 13 years while their mean monthly income was N26, 075.00. Also, the majority (91.7%) of the respondents had an average flock size of about 411 birds, were members of a social group (84.2%) and had no extension contact (84.2%). The most prominent sources of awareness on Avian Influenza were; Co-farmers/farmers group (=3.711), followed by Radio programme and marketers of poultry products (M=3.523). Furthermore, the study revealed that there was high level of adoption on biosecurity measures of segregation and traffic control (M=2.820), medium level of adoption for cleaning (M=2.440) and low level of adoption for disinfection of the standard bio-security components (M=1.290). There was a significant relationship between some socio-economic characteristics (age, average monthly income, farming experience and membership of social group) and adoption of bio-security measures of poultry farmers. The highly severe constraints of the poultry farmers were poor extension/veterinary contact, lack of Buffer Areas around the farm site and inadequate access to fund.  Provision of accessible credit facilities, pro-active extension services with continuous training and constant veterinary services for poultry farmers in the study area towards increased capability to prevent and eradicate the negative effect of this acute and highly contagious viral disease on their means of livelihood thus ensuring an improved and sustainable poultry production. Keywords: Adoption of bio-security, avian-influenza, outbreak, poultry farmers