Awareness and participation of farmers in extension activities of agricultural media resources and extension centre in Ogun state

Abstract

This study assessed the extension activities of Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC) of University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun State. Five villages that were in active collaboration with the centre were targeted. Ten percent (10%) of registered farmers were selected from each village given the sample size of 170 respondents. Data based on respondents awareness and participation in the extension activities of AMREC were collected through structured questionnaire and analysis was done using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that 69.6% of the respondents were between 31-50years of age, 68.3% were males, 88.8% were married and 62.7% of the respondents have one form of education or the other. Majority (82.6%) were full time farmers with 44.7% cultivating 1-2hectares while 95.0% had technical background before the inception of AMREC in the area. Greater percentage (59.0%) of the respondents had been having contacts with extension agents once in 2 weeks. All the respondents were aware of AMREC research activities but 95% had more awareness on market research. Respondents were aware of extension services of AMREC more than research activities and almost all the respondents were aware of input supply services of AMREC. Meanwhile, participation of respondents in research activities of AMREC was occasional while that of extension and input supply activities was regular. There is significant relationship between gender, marital status, level of education and level of participation in AMREC activities (χ 2 = 20.31, p<0.05; χ 2 = 6.92, p<0.05 and χ 2 = 21.58, p< 0.05). Positive relationship exists between respondents' awareness of all AMREC activities and participation in the extension activities. It can be concluded that most of the participants in AMREC activities were small scale farmers and their awareness and participation in AMREC extension and input supply activities were more than research activities. More female farmers and farmers with large hectares of land should be involved. Also, AMREC should ensure that their research work is disseminated to all farmers within their coverage areas irrespective of the specific target audience.

Farmers’ Awareness, Participation and Sources of Information on Extension Activities in Rural Nigeria: A Case of Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State

“…This result suggests that once the farmers are aware of the extension activities, a large proportion of them are likely to participate in these activities. As mentioned earlier, this result is supported by Fawole and Tijani (2013) …”

Farmers’ Awareness of Improved Maize Cropping Practices in Punjab, Pakistan

“…Current findings confirmed by Ajadi et al (2016), revealed that farmers who had contact with extension department were aware. These finding are also supported by Fawole & Tijani (2013) which showed high correlation between participation of farmers in extension activities and their awareness. According to (Umeh et al (2018), extension improved farmers' decision power, analytical abilities by communicating sound suggestions and information.…”

Extension officers' perception towards accreditation and regulation of extension services in North West Province, South Africa

“…Okwu & Daudu, (2011) reported that in Benue state of Nigeria, interpersonal communication channels such as extension agents, contact farmers, opinion leaders and friends/ neighbours were generally preferred by the farmers to the mass media to obtain information on improved farm technologies. Several studies including (Daudu, Chado & Igbashal, 2009;Fawole & Tijani, 2013;Ogunremi, Faturoti & Oladele, 2011;Kwarteng, & Okorley 2014) have revealed that the village level extension agent is the most effective source of information for farmers but certainly not the most efficient in terms of cost and coverage. Afful & Lategan, (2014) reported that in Free State province, South Africa, public extension was the dominant information source for production activities for most farmers.…”