Effectiveness of extension service delivery among arable farmers in Irepodun Local Government Area, Kwara State

Abstract

The study evaluated the effectiveness of extension service delivery among arable crop farmers in Irepodun Local Government Area (LGA), Kwara State. One hundred and twenty farmers were randomly selected from six communities in the LGA. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics like mean, frequency, standard deviation, correlation coefficient and chi-square. Findings show that majority (92.5%) of the respondents were male and married (91.7%) with mean age of 49.7±8.00 years. More than half (58.3%) of the farmers had less than 5 contacts with extension agents in a year. The major services delivered to farmers were:  creating awareness (93.3%), training and visit to farmers (92.5%), holding scheduled meetings (91.7%), farmers training programme (90.0%), advisory services (82.5%), and marketing facilities (58.3%). Only two (social networks for farmers and organisation of audio-visual shows) out of the thirteen extension services rendered were perceived effective. Farming experience (r =0.186; p? 0.05), number of years of schooling (r = -0.247; p?0.01), number of contact with extension agents (r=0.356; p?0.01), and number of training received (r=0.33; p?0.01) had positive and significant relationship with the effectiveness of extension service delivery. For extension to be more effective there is a need to provide more extension agents so as to ensure effective dissemination of improved practices and discharge of extension duties.