This study examined commercial poultry farmers' perceptions of extension services rendered through input providers in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone of Oyo State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 99 commercial poultry farmers. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed with descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The results showed that the mean age of farmers was 43.0± 7.1 years; most farmers (74.4%) were male, while 28.9% were educated. Input providers rendered various extension services such as farmer mobilisation (78.9%), investment information (78.9%) and facilitating seminars/workshops (75.6%). Commercial poultry farmers' perceptions of input providers' extension services was shown to be favourable (53.3%). There was a significant negative correlation between age and perception of extension services (r = -0.25, p<0.05). For enhanced and sustainable input providers' extension services, there is the need to ensure a blend between both publicly and privately provided extension services. This may involve role delineation for each actor to complement each other towards sustainable extension services in poultry production.

The study examined factors influencing input dealers’ performance of extension role to farmers in Yobe State of Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted in selecting 86 input dealers. Primary data were collected from them on socioeconomic characteristics, performance of extension roles, sources of agricultural knowledge and training using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. Results showed that input dealers were mostly males (98.8%); young and agile with mean age of 41.8 years, 44.2% had tertiary education but 86.0% had no agricultural qualifications. Although input dealers’ performance of extension roles was high (55.8%), they had low training (68.6%) to boost performance. Significant relationships existed between performance of extension roles and type of trade (χ2 = 25.135, p < 0.05) and membership of input dealers association (χ2 = 12.550, p < 0.05). Also, a significant positive correlation existed between performance of extension roles and training received (r = 0.33, p < 0.05) and sources of agricultural knowledge (r = 0.25, p < 0.05). It was recommended that input dealers should be strengthened to perform extension roles by enhancing their training and access to sources of agricultural knowledge via institutionalized research, extension, input companies and input dealers’ linkage.

The study examined market orientation and market information sources for cassava farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select one hundred and twenty (120) respondents. With the use of structured questionnaire, data were collected on socioeconomic characteristics, sources of market information, specific market information available to cassava farmers, market orientation and entrepreneurial competence. Descriptive statistical tools (frequency counts, percentages, mean) and inferential statistical tool [Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC)] were used for data analysis. Results revealed that majority (73.3%) were male with mean age of 46.48 years, and 73.3% had formal education. Most (62.5%) of the farmers had high market orientation and most sought information was on post-harvest technologies. However, the cassava farmers used less of marketing websites (17.5%), extension services (27.5%), email (29.2) and social media (35.8%) as sources of market information, and sought less of agricultural extension service information (34.2%). The study concluded that selected socio-economic characteristics and entrepreneurial competences were insignificant toward market orientation in cassava production. The study recommended that market orientation efforts should be geared toward cassava producers regardless of socio-economic status and entrepreneurial competence. Also, cassava farmers association should be willing to collaborate with extension services to build Market Information System that will be suitable to fill their specific needs at becoming market-oriented in cassava production.

The study analyzed the participation of male and female cattle farmers in cattle production in Bauchi and Yobe States Nigeria. A snowball technique was used in selecting one hundred and twenty (120) sample of farmers comprising forty (40) males and twenty (20) females from each of Bauchi and Yobe States respectively. Data on socioeconomic characteristics and participation in cattle production were collected using an interview schedule between April and June of 2021. The results reveal that male and female cattle farmers in Bauchi and Yobe States were active producers with mean age in years of 48.9 (males), 42.3 (females), 44.4 (males) and 41.4 (females) in Bauchi and Yobe States respectively. Male farmers had more cattle (x=38 in Bauchi and `x=20 in Yobe) than their female counterparts (`x=6 in Bauchi and`x= 2 in Yobe). The majority of farmers (male = 95%, female = 100%, male = 65%, female = 80%) in Bauchi and Yobe States respectively had no contact with extension but all farmers (100%) had membership of cooperatives. Male (`x=11.18) and female (`x=11.25) cattle farmers in Yobe State participated in cattle production more than male (x=9.78) and female (x=8.00) cattle farmers in Bauchi State. Both male (x=0.00) and female (x=0.00) farmers in Bauchi and Yobe States did not participate at all in breeding and artificial insemination. There was a significant difference (t = 2.223, p ˂ 0.05) in participation of male and female cattle farmers in cattle production in Bauchi State. There was no significant difference (t = -0.104, p ˃ 0.05) in cattle production between male and female cattle farmers in Yobe State. There was no participation in highly technical activities like breeding and artificial insemination. It was recommended that cattle farmers should leverage their membership of cooperative societies in accessing adult education especially in cattle production, credits and extension services and seek training in breeding and artificial insemination.