The study assessed the training needs of extension agents in Edo State Agricultural Development Programme (ESADP). The study specifically examined the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, tasks and new tasks performed by them and the task areas in which they needed further training. Using structured questionnaire, data were collected from seventy six (76) randomly selected extension agents in 3 agricultural zones of Edo State. Findings revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 41.7 years. More than half (55.3%) of them holders of National Diploma (ND) and about seventy two percent of the respondents had been working in extension service for 6 and 7 years.

A study was conducted to investigate the communication process through which the extension workers of Benue Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (BNARDA) disseminate improved farm practices to rural women farmers. A total of 250 women farmers who were in contact with the extension services were randomly selected and interviewed. The results showed that 90% of them recognized personal contacts, group meetings of farmers, and method-and-result demonstration sites as channels through which they communicated with the extension workers. There was a positive and significant interaction effect between the frequency of contacts the rural women contact farmers had with the extension workers and some of their socioeconomic characteristics: education ( b = 0.91); farm size ( b = 0.117); and knowledge of extension worker's office by the rural women contact farmers ( b = 0.48).

The study focused on farmers under the fadama project scheme in Edo State, Nigeria with emphasis on the relationship between farmers' characteristics and adoption of recommended technologies. Analyses of data obtained from a random sample of 80 respondents reveals that fadama farming was dominated by females (62.5%), most of whom were married (77.5%), above 32 years (77.5%), and poorly educated. Gender, educational and household characteristics of respondents were significant determinants of respondents' adoption of fadama-related technologies, accounting for about 39% of variability in adaption. High costs of water pumps, lack of agro-chemicals (fertilizers) and inadequate funds were major constraints to respondents' adoption of recommended practices. Farmer organization into cooperatives and increased agricultural extension education to enhance communication were recommended.

The study examined the characteristics of catfish marketing in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select four communities: Isihor, Evbomore, Ekheoba and Odigi. This was followed by random sampling of one central market in each community and fifteen respondents were sampled randomly from each central market in each community giving a total sample size of sixty respondents. Data were analysed using mean, percentages gamma, chi square and Pearson product moment correlation. Results showed that 95% sourced their marketing information very often from catfish marketers/farmers and 70% sourced information from other marketers such as poultry or vegetable marketers. Only 11.42% had access to information on improved technology through extension agents while 56.3% derived their information from family members. Technologies adopted were clean-washing (96.7%), grading by size (95%) by weight (71.7%), by quality (81.7%), by source (85%), solar drying (88.3%), sorting (90%), hot smoking (93.3%) cold smoking (80%), and half drum smoking (91.7%). A positive significant relationship between respondents' use of information channels and their intensity of performing catfish marketing functions was observed. The study established that extension service delivery was poor and newspaper, radio, magazine, bulleting, internets and cooperative society were not good source of information for improved catfish technologies in the study areas. Extension agent frequency of contacts with catfish farmers/marketers should be increased to improve extension service delivery and concentrate effort on those catfish technologies with low adoption Key words: Extension service delivery, adoption of Improved catfish practices Creative Commons User License: CC BY-NC-ND

The Agricultural technology system (ATS), which, in Nigeria, is called the Research-Extension-Farmer-Input Linkage System [REFILS] comprises individuals who are expected to interact and effectively perform activities geared towards generation, dissemination, supply and use of innovations to achieve food security and poverty alleviation. However, the impact of the system is far below expectation due to challenges experienced by components of the linkage system. This study therefore assessed research and extension practitioners' perception of the component-wise challenges and effectiveness of Nigeria's REFILS. The seventy two (72) high calibre research and extension practitioners who participated in the National Extension Planning Review Meeting (NEPRM) for 2010 constituted the respondents. Findings show that practitioners were mostly males (75%), mean age=50.1 years, years of experience (X =21.3years) and 75% had post graduate degrees. The study also revealed weak perception of linkage effectiveness (grand X =2.016) with report writing (X =2.671), management interactions (X =2.522), policy formulation (X =2.387), as activities with strongest linkage effectiveness. Linkage effectiveness scores were weak in activities such as mass media communication (X =1.298), link with input and service providers (X =1.314), liaison services (X =1.429) and joint programme implementation reviews (X =1.462). Furthermore, analysis showed significant relationships between sex (r=-0.690), educational qualification (r=0.598) and years of working experience (r=0.506). Component-wise, most serious challenges (≥50% indication) to REFILS effectiveness include poor motivation, inadequate and erratic funding, dearth of capacity building opportunities, inadequate capital for farmers, absence of strong farmers' organizations, poor participation of input agencies and poor coordination. The study concludes that practitioners were weak in linkage effectiveness, especially in field level activities due to various component-wise challenges. The study recommends improved funding support and involvement of relevant stakeholders, especially farmers' organizations and input agencies in REFILS activities by government, private and donor agencies to enhance food security in Nigeria and by extension Africa.