Agricultural Extension Agents’ Occupational Stress in Southwest State’s Agricultural Development Programme

Abstract

The study examined the balance between extension agents work demand and capability of meeting it, since, World Bank withdraw their support. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 120 extension officers to examine the incidence of occupational stress in south Western states’ Agricultural Development Programmes. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and multiple regression analysis. Majority (62.5%) of the extension officers were male and 52.5% with Bachelor Degrees in Agriculture. Majority (91.7%) of the extension agents had more than 10 years working experience. Extension officers out of 5 categories of jobs stress, ranked factors unique to the job and career development first and second respectively as the work stress they were experiencing within the organisation. The most prominent job stressors under each 5 categories of job stressor indicated by extension officers were: work load (85.0%), role conflict (65.0%) , over promotion( 80.0%) , supervisor and subordinate (58.0%) and management style (65.0%). Significant correlation existed at p<0.05 between work stressors and manifestation of stress among extension workers within the organisation. The study found that job stressors manifested among extension agents and recommended training on work stress management for them.