ABSTRACT
The study investigated the effectiveness of extension agents in disseminating selected improved cassava varieties to rural farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of a sample size of 70 extension agents that were used for the study. The specific objectives of the study were to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, ascertain the different types of communication channels used in the dissemination of information on improved selected cassava varities, determine the adoption levels of improved selected cassava varities and determine the perceived factors affecting the extension agents effectiveness in the dissemination of improved selected cassava varities in the study area. Structured questionnaire were used in the collection of primary data. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools such as frequency, percentages, mean, and simple linear regression respectively, results showed a mean age of 26.8yrs, with reasonable proportion (58.6%) of the respondents being males and about 68.6% being married. Results equally showed that 51% of the respondents had between 14 and 18 years of schooling. Results further showed a mean household size of three persons with about 58.6% of the respondents residing outside their cells. Results equally showed that the FNT was moderately effective ( = 2.3), while field day ( = 1.83), demonstration training method ( = 1.80), workshop/conferences ( = 1.77), results demonstration ( = 1.74), Block supervisor visit ( = 1.80) zonal manager visit ( = 1.77) and number of trainees ( = 1.80) respectively were not effective. Results equally showed that the following selected improved cassava varieties: NR 07/0432, NR 07/0506, NR 07/0497, and UMUCASS 46 (TMS 01/70359) had high adoption levels ( = 3.96, = 1.77, = 1.90 and = 1.61) respectively. Results further showed that large extension coverage ( = 3.42), lack of mobility ( = 2.80), irregular payment of salaries/other benefits ( = 3.55) respectively were factors affecting extension agents effectiveness in the study area. The coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.732 indicating 73.20% of the total variation in the dependent variable was accounted for by the explanatory variable. (F-value = 18.63, P<0.05). The hypothesis test showed that there was a significant relationship between effectiveness of extension agents and the adoption level of selected improved cassava varieties, HO1 was therefore rejected and the alternative accepted. The study therefore concluded that the extension agent’s effectiveness in disseminating selected improved cassava varieties in the study area was moderate. The study therefore, recommends that the federal and state governments should fund the ADP’s mostly in the study area as to ensure the effectiveness of the extension agents.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title Page
i
Declaration
ii
Certification
iii
Dedication
iv
Acknowledgement
v
Table of Contents
vi
List of Tables
vii
List of Figures
viii
Abstract
ix
CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background Information 1
1.2 Problem Statement 10
1.3 Research
Questions 11
1.4 Objectives
of the Study 12
1.5 Hypothesis
of the Study 12
1.6 Justification of the Study 13
1.7 Scope
of the Study 15
1.8 Definition
of Terms 15
1.9 Limitation
of Study 16
CHAPTER
2:LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Conceptual
Review 17
2.1.1 Concepts
of dissemination of technologies 17
2.1.2 Improved
Cassava varieties in Nigeria 19
2.1.3 Communication
channels used in disseminating agricultural messages 20
2.1.4 Extension
strategies for enhancing effective delivery of extension agents 21
2.1.5 Constraints
to extension agents effective service delivery 22
2.2 Theoretical
Framework 23
2.2.1 Diffusion
theory 23
2.2.2 Performance
theory 27
2.2.3 Theory of reasoned action 28
2.3 Review
of empirical studies 28
2.4 Conceptual
Framework of the Study 29
CHAPTER
3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Study
Area 32
3.2 Population
of the Study 33
3.3 Sample
and Sampling Procedure 33
3.4 Validity
of Instrument 33
3.5 Reliability
of Instrument 33
3.6 Method
of Data Collection 34
3.7 Measurement
of Variables 34
3.7.1 Personal
demographic characteristics of extension agents 34
3.7.2 Extent of
dissemination of selected improved cassava varieties to farmers 34
3.7.3 Different types of
communication channels 35
3.7.4 Determination of
adoption level of selected improved cassava varieties among
farmers
35
3.7.5 Extension agents’
level of effectiveness in disseminating selected improved
cassava varieties
35
3.7.6 Perceived factors affecting extension agents effectiveness
in the dissemination of
selected improved cassava varieties 36
3.8 Data
Analysis 36
3.9 Test of
Hypothesis 38
3.10 Model
Specification 38
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS
AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Personal
demographic characteristics of extension agents 40
4.1.1 Age 40
4.1.2 Sex 40
4.1.3 Marital
status 40
4.1.4 Years of
schooling 40
4.1.5 Working
experience 41
4.1.6 Household
size 41
4.1.7 Place of
residence 41
4.1.8 Distance
to work 41
4.1.9 Mobility 41
4.1.10 Number of
conferences/seminars attended 42
4.2 Extent
of Dissemination of Selected Improved Cassava Varieties to Farmers 44
4.3 Communication Channels’ used by Extension
Agents in the Dissemination
of
Selected Improved Cassava Varieties 46
4.4 Adoption Level of
Selected Improved Cassava
Varieties 48
4.5
Extension Agents’ Effectiveness 50
4.6 Factors
Affecting Extension Agents’ 52
Test
of Hypothesis
54
CHAPTER 5:
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 56
5.2 Conclusion 57
5.3 Recommendations 57
References 59
Appendices
LIST
OF TABLES
1.1: Extension effectiveness indicators 9
4.1: Personal demographic characteristics of extension
agents
43
4.2: Extent of dissemination of
selected improved cassava varieties 45
4.3:
Mean rating of selected communication channels used by extension
agents in the dissemination of selected
improved cassava varieties. 47
4.4: Adoption level of selected
improved cassava varieties.
49
4.5: Mean rating
of extension agents’ effectiveness 51
4.6 Mean rating of factors affecting extension agents’
effectiveness 53
4.7: Simple linear regression influence of
effectiveness of extension agents
on level
of adoption of selected improved cassava varieties in the study area 55
LIST OF FIGURES
1:Dimensions of information dissemination
19
2: Adopter categorization on basis of innovativeness. 26
3:
Conceptual framework of effectiveness of extension agents in
disseminating improved cassava varieties in Imo state Nigeria
31
4: Map of Imo State 32
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
Nigeria
is the world’s largest producer of cassava with about 45.75 million metric
tonnes annually (FAO, 2014). Like other staples, the cassava root is rich in
starch but poor in protein and micronutrients like iron, zinc, among others. According
to Onunka, et al., (2017), Cassava is quoted as the fifth most important staple
crop worldwide but ranks first in many arid regions, such as in sub-saharan
Africa. This is due to the fact that more than 500 million people in the zone
take cassava meals daily throughout the year (Egesi and Eke-Okoro, 2013).
Cassava has some inherent characteristics which make it attractive, especially
to the small holder farms, these characteristics which make it attractive,
especially to the small holder farmers, include; rich in carbohydrate
especially starch consequently multiplicity of end users, available all the
year round, hence making it preferable to other more seasonal crops such as
grains, peas and beans and other crops of food security, survive droughts, is
inexpensive, resistant to pests and easy to grow as a cash crop, ability to
make returns of root yield even at extreme stress condition, suitable to
various faming system, available all year round as well as produces efficient
food energy (Egesi and Eke-Okoro, 2013, FAO, 2014).
Small
holder subsistence farmers account for about 95% of total cassava
farmers/planting 0.2 – 1 ha (usually intercropped with maize, melon,
vegetables) with yield of 8 – 10 t/ha. The farmers who plant for commercial
purposes usually have between 1 – 10 ha and adopt the use of high yielding
varieties, however a lot of them adopt agronomic practices which results in an
average yield of 11 – 15 t/ha instead of potential yield of 25 – 30 mt/ha
obtained for IITA/CEDP beneficiary farmers in sub-saharan Africa (NRCRI, 2014)
scale farmers are quite few in the region with farm size accounting for more than
10ha and up to >1,000 ha. Selected improved varieties and mechanized farming
are adopted by these farms with output of about 27 — 35 t/ha, however the high
cost of operating the farms is making some of these firms to scale down on
investments. One of the major cost components of subsistence and commercial
cassava production is labour cost, which accounts for about 70% of total
production cost (PIND, 2011).
Cassava is processed into traditional food products
at household and micro processing centres while cassava is processed into selected
improved food products and industrial products at the small and medium scale
enterprises (SMEs) and large scale plants. Many recent SMEs processing plants
have shut down because they could not produce High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF)
due to low prices from the flour mills. This led to the unprofitable nature of
producing HQCF which was the product most of them focused on. However few
diversified into production of odourless fufu flour whose demand is increasing.
Supply of cassava roots to urban based SMEs and large processing plants for
production of industrial cassava products has been poor due to challenges of
cost and timing of transport from the rural areas. A major constraint
identified for production of HQCF was the inability of many farmers to deliver
freshly harvested cassava roots to processing plants within 24 hours; this has
high cost implication in terms of labour for harvesting and transportation of
roots to the processors.
Opportunity
for growth lies with the industrial usage of cassava through expansion of
competitive cassava production and improved products. The growth potential of
the non traditional cassava food sectors in Nigeria is strong. The expansion of
this non-food market will foster growth in the cassava production and
processing especially the provision of diversified alternative products and
sales outlets in the medium to long-term. This will ensure import substitution
for starch
glucose and open up export market for
starch (native and modified). Import substitution can absorb up to 900,000 mt
of finished product, equivalent to nearly 4.5 million mt of cassava tubers.
The
term “Extension” is derived from a Latin word “Extendere” means “to
extend". The Oxford English Dictionary of current English defined
extension as: “an additional part “addition or continuance” or enlargement.
Also, extension is defined as “the extending of or a service or system which
extends the educational advantages of an institution to persons’ unable to
avail them in a normal manner. The concept of agricultural extension differs
from one country to the other and from one agricultural agency to another, it
refers to as agricultural advisory work. Consequently, its definition depends
on the objective of the organization providing the services (Hamisu et al,
2017). Agricultural extension as a service or a system which assists farm
people, through educational procedures, in improving farming methods and
techniques, increasing production efficiency and income and bettering their
levels of living and uplifting the social and educational standards of rural
life (Ajala, et al., 2013).
Extension
approaches include the Training and Visit system (T&V), Agricultural
Extension Participatory (AEP), Project Approach (AP), Farming System
Development Approach (FSDA), Cost Sharing Approach (CSA) and the Educational
Institution Approach (EIA). The Training and Visit
(T&V) extension, vigorously promoted by the World Bank in more than 50
countries, and religiously adopted in Nigeria. More than ninety five percent
(95%) of the agricultural extension services delivery in Nigeria is provided by
the government through the state Agricultural Development Project (ADPs) using
the T&V approach. Even though the T&V system was finally abandoned in
the late 1990s by its promoters, the system still remains the most popular
extension strategy in Nigeria. Despite, it’s proven lack of fiscal
sustainability and its inadequacy in meeting the demand of farmers, and its
inconsistency with the growing emphasis on the role of the state as a
facilitators rather than a provider of public service (Ijeoma and Adesope, 2015).
The current trend in extension is tilting towards reduced emphasis on uniform
message as provided by the Training and Visit (T&V) system but rather to
involve other stakeholders (including farmers and private sector) in gaining
more ground (Bassey, 2016). Dissemination is to cause something, such as
information to go to many people. It also encompasses getting someone to
understand your thoughts or feeling. In order to ensure the effectiveness of
the research system, a number of institutional and government agencies have
been established to ensure that farmers get to know and adopt improved
agricultural technologies that are relevant to their needs and situations
(Ajala, et al., 2013; Ajala, 2011). These agencies facilitate the dissemination
of agricultural technologies through various methods. The role of agricultural
extension agents is very crucial in improving agricultural development in
Nigeria (Agbarevo and Obinne, 2010; Agbarevo and Nwogu, 2016). The importance of agricultural extension in
agricultural development is widely acknowledged, particularly in developing
countries such as Nigeria where by in most developing countries, agriculture is
the main source of livelihood (Ijeoma and Adesope, 2015).
In
Nigeria, the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan in
collaboration with National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRT), Umudike
developed and released new cassava improved varieties that contain beta
carotene (3-carotene) known as "Provitamin A”cassava, with the following
hybrid named: NR07/0326, NR07/0506, NR07/0497, NR07/0499, NR07/0427, NR07/0432
(Egesi and Ekeokoro, 2013). However, apart from the “Pro-vitamin A"
contents of these improved cassava varieties , they have in addition high dry matter content, high
leaf retention in dry season (i.e. showing high drought tolerance) and possess
high quality flour for confectionaries making which is a key trait for Cassava
Transformation Agenda (CTA) as reported by Egesi and Ekeokoro (2013). They
equally have enormous potentials of raising the low cassava productivity in
farmers' farm up to 30-40 mt/ha.
Therefore the introduction of these
improved varieties coupled with good agronomic practices have increased yields
per unit area by 40 percent. Cassava gives a carbohydrate production which is
about 40% higher than rice and 25% more than maize with the result that cassava
is the cheapest source of calories for both human nutrition and animal feeding.
Among all, the three new varieties UMUCASS 36(TMS 01/1368), UMUCASS 37(TMS
01/1412), and UMUCASS 38(TMS 01/1371) provides more vitamin A in the diets of
more than 70 million Nigerians who eat the root crop every day. Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD)
lowers immunity and impair vision, which can lead to blindness or even cause
death (Abila, 2012, Njoku, et al., 2013). Almost all the cassava produce is
used for human and animal consumption and less than 5 percent is used in
industries. As food crop, cassava fits well because it is available all year
round, thus providing household
food security. Compared to grains, cassava
is more tolerant to low soil fertility and more resistant to drought, pests and
disease, its root store well in the ground for months after maturity. Cassava
is propagated by stem cuttings and the main sources of the planting materials
are the farmers’ fields, farmers’ neighbours and sometimes rural markets (Ekwe,
2016). Furthermore in recent times, cassava is progressively gaining a
strategic position in the global trade as a result of the efforts by various
research and development stakeholders in developing value-added cassava-based
products such as the white’ and light oil garri for human consumption and
industrial uses (NRCRI,2014). The emerging trend of cassava as a dual purpose
crop among the Nigerian small -scale farmers as a food security crop and as a
cash crop has become a very topical issue in Nigeria in recent times, which
brought about" The Presidential Initiative "on Cassava (PIC) in
2002”. Studies, FAO, 2013 and Nwakor, (2012), have shown that cassava products
generate about 25 % of cash income from all food crops grown among the farming
households mostly, in Nigeria.
Major
products derived from cassava are fufu, garri, flour (alibo), starch, tapioca,
sliced cassava chips (abacha) and cassava-based products. For cassava product
to be market driven, value must be added to it, through conversion to other by
- products such as white and light yellow garri that are more stable, safer and
available products which are also market preferred (Nwosu and Ogbonnaya, 2014).
Asante-pok, 2013; USAID, 2013 and FAO, (2014) observed that cassava was widely
accepted as food in various forms and that it’s demand was highly elastic due
to it’s multiple roles. Similarly, Nwosu and Ogbonnaya (2014) observed that
farmers in Nigeria have been exposed to an array of capacity building on
agronomic and value - addition practices by the Extension Agents. It was in
line with the above that Nwosu and Ogbonnaya (2014) stated that rural farmers
are increasingly being enlightened on the importance of adopting cassava-value
added innovations as part of the transformation agenda in Agriculture in
Nigeria, which is aimed at enhancing the quality of cassava by- products and at
the same time increase the income level of the rural farmers. In the light of
this, it is therefore necessary to study effectiveness of extension agents in
disseminating selected improved cassava varities among rural farmers in Imo
State, Nigeria. Knowledge and information are essential for people to respond
successfully to the opportunities and challenges of social, economic and
technological changes, including those that help to improve agricultural productivity,
food security and rural livelihood. But to be useful, knowledge and information
must be effectively communicated (IITA, 2013; Eugene and Otim-Nape, 2012). An
extension agent is responsible for providing or disseminating information on
particular innovations through communication, he passes such to farmers (Eugene
and Otim-Nape, 2012).
Evaluation
of the success of extension delivery propgrammes, in most cases, has focused on
farmers, viz-a-viz behavioural change in terms of adoption as well as increased
use of production inputs, yield, income and impact assessment (farmers’
standard of living). The effectiveness
and efficiency with which extension personnel deliver extension services cannot
be over looked as this may in fact be a greater reason for success or failure
of extension programmes (Agbarevo, 2013). An alternative means of evaluating
extension programmes is measurement of the learning situations provided, which
is extension delivery mechanism or process as means of measuring extension effectiveness
(FAO, 2011; Agbarevo, 2013).
Adoption
focuses on behavioural changes in the farmer, while learning situations focus
on extension personnel and their activities. The effectiveness of extension
personal (extension agents) in conducting its activities can be used to assess
effectiveness of extension programme. This is because if appropriate
teaching/learning situation is provided, it follows that learning or relatively
permanent and positive change in behaviour of the farmer would take place. Such
teaching/learning situations are effective (Agbarevo, 2013).
The
effectiveness of extension delivery or extension agents is the extent to which
any extension delivery system achieved the desired result. Though the
objectives of agricultural extension vary from one country to another, however
most extension delivery system shared a common goal of behvaioural changes in
terms of adopting as well as increased use of production inputs, yield, income
and farmers standard of living (Agbarevo, 2013; Ajala, et al., 2013).
Ajala
et al (2013), measured the effectiveness of extension agents by determining
farmers level of satisfaction with extension/advisory service viz-a-viz level
of awareness of extension agents, improved cassava varieties (cassava planting
material), cooperative facilities, social network, tractor hiring services,
credit facilities, marketing facilities, fertilizer procurement, among others
facilitated by extension agents.
However,
Agbarevo (2013) measured the farmers’ perception of effectiveness of agricultural
extension delivery in Cross River State, Nigeria using extension effectiveness
indicators based on the mean ratings of farmers perception of effectiveness of
extension delivery.
Based
on the foregoing, effectiveness of extension, hence extension agents can be
determined by using extension agent effectiveness indicators based on their
benchmark. For example, it is expected that each extension agent conductsFortnightly
training (FNT) twice in a month which translates to 24 FNTs in a year. Also,
extension agent is expected to attend Monthly Training Meeting (MTM) once every
month which translates to 12 MTMs in a year, among others.
Table 1.1:
shows the total number of FNTs and MTMs an extension agent is supposed to
attend in a year. Therefore, where any extension agents fails to attend at
least ½ of the total number is regarded not being effective with regards to
attendance to FNT and MTM trainings.
Table 1.1: Extension
Effectiveness Indicators
|
Indicators
|
Total/Year
|
|
Fortnightly Training (FNTS)
|
24
|
|
Monthly training meeting (mtms)
|
12
|
|
Field days
|
3
|
|
Supervision (block extension officer/extension
monitoring/evaluation team)
|
12
|
|
Number of small plot-adoption trail (spats)
|
100
|
|
Regularity of visit
|
Once every 2 weeks = 24
|
|
Method demonstration
|
10
|
|
Results demonstration
|
10
|
|
Extension agent-farmer ratio
|
500
|
|
Research-extension linkage workshop
|
3
|
|
Farmers training
|
2
|
|
Number of farmers cooperative facilitated
(registered)
|
50
|
|
Number of farmers beneficiaries from anchor borrower
scheme 10 cooperatives of minimun of 10 members facilitated)
|
100
|
Source: Adopted
from Imo state ADP budget Estimate 2018
1.2
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The
analysis of the success of extension delivery programmes, has most often been
based on farmers, with regards to behavioural change in terms of adoption or
utilization of improved technologies.Extension agents, sought to empower local
communities and enhance government’s capacity to reach out specifically to the
poor and vulnerable, resource poor farmers, among others. Farmers’ utilization
of disseminated technologies such as improved cassava varieties can lead to
enhanced productivity of cassava farmers. To achieve high adoption of
technologies the extension agents must be effective in the dissemination of any
technologies (FAO, 2011).
However,
there are reported cases of studies indicating low productivity of farmers
which questioned the effectiveness and efficiency with which extension
personnel deliver extension services which cannot be over looked. This may
infact be a greater reasons for success or failure of our farmers (Ajala, 2011;
Agbarevo, 2013; FAO, 2014).
In
this regard, the study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of
extension agents in disseminating improved cassava varieties to rural farmers
in Imo state, Nigeria.
According
to Ajala (2011), the effectiveness of extension workers in disseminating selected
improved cassava varieties to rural farmers which could have resulted to
increase in production that should translates to availability of cassava
product (Garri) and cassava by-products in the market is seriously challenges
as most recently from the markets the cost of garri has gone so high, even sometimes
being more costly than rice that used to be very expensive. This mean that the
farmers are not adopting the improved cassava varieties disseminated to them or
the extension agents that are disseminating the improved cassava varieties are
not effective.
Many
improved cassava varieties have been developed by International Institute for
Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan and National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI),
Umudike for dissemination to farmers for adoption in Imo state and other states
of the federation (NRCRI, 2011). The essence for the dissemination of the
improved cassava varieties is to boost nutrition, improve health, promote food
security and to reduce rural poverty (Food and Agriculture organization, 2014;
Harvestplus, 2014). experience has shown
that a number of projects for rural farmers in the rural areas have not yielded
desirable results particularly in the area of transfer of innovation or
dissemination of improved varieties.
The
reason may be that the selected improved cassava varieties is not beneficial to
them or the extension agents are not effective for rural farmers to adopt any
technology (selected improved cassava varieties) such technology must be
in the farmers economic conditions of
the cassava farmers (Ajala, 2011). Previous studies focused their assessment of
effectiveness of extension delivery service on farmers viz-a-viz adoption rate
and were outside researcher study area thereby creating dearth of information
on effectiveness of extension agents in disseminating improved cassava
varieties among rural farmers in Imo state, Nigeria.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Consequently,
the following research questions guided the study.
i.
What are the personal
demographic characteristics of extension agents?
ii.
To what extent has selected
improved cassava varieties been disseminated to farmers?
iii.
What are the types of
communication channels used by extension agents in disseminating information on
selected improved cassava varieties among farmers?
iv.
What is the adoption
level of selected improved cassava varieties among farmers?
v.
What is the extension
agent’s level of effectiveness in disseminating selected improved cassava
varieties?
vi.
What are the perceived
factors affecting extension agent’s effectiveness in the dissemination of selected
improved cassava varieties in the study area?
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The
broad objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of extension
agents in disseminating selected improved cassava varieties among rural farmers
in Imo state, Nigeria.
The
specific objectives of the study were to:
i. describe
the personal demographic characteristics of extension agents;
ii. determine
the extent of dissemination of selected improved cassava varieties to farmers.
iii. ascertain
the different types of communication channels used by extension agents in
disseminating information on selected improved cassava varieties among farmers;
iv. determine
the adoption level of selected improved cassava varieties among farmers;
v. determine
the extension agents’ level of effectiveness in disseminating selected improved
cassava varieties; and
vi. determine
the perceived factors affecting extension agents effectiveness in the
dissemination of selected improved cassava varieties to farmers in the study
area.
1.5 HYPOTHESIS
OF THE STUDY
The
study tested one null hypothesis;
HO1:
Level of effectiveness of extension agents do not significantly influence level
of adoption of selected improved cassava varieties in the study area.
1.6 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
Public agricultural extension organizations in most
countries have the task of providing a two way flow of improved technology and
information between research and users, primarily farmers. They operate in an
institutional environment that includes other public and private organizations active
in agriculture. In Nigeria, as elsewhere, the ministry based extension service
was found to be unable to effectively address agricultural and rural
development problems (Petros,et al.,
2008). This led to the establishment of Agricultural Development Programmes
(ADPs) which marked the departure of the Nigerian
extension system from ministry based extension to project-based extension
system. The ADP was sponsored by the World Bank in collaboration with the States and
Federal Government.
This
study was necessary because it added both practical and theoretical
significance to knowledge. The role of extension agent is to bring changes into
rural areas such as new skills to improve or boost agricultural production and
marketing of such produce. The methods, channels among others used to
disseminate information on improved production technologies (improved cassava
varieties inclusive) are essential. Therefore, there is need to assess the
effectiveness of extension agents in disseminating improved cassava varieties
among rural farmers in Imo state, Nigeria.
Farmers
have been blamed for poor adoption on the ground that they are conservative.
The
level of adoption should not always be used in measuring success or failure of
extension delivery because the effectiveness of the extension delivery
mechanism is to a large extent responsible for success or failure of extension
programme. Therefore, results of this study will provide basis for formulating
future policies regarding dissemination of improved cassava varieties,
strategies to be adopted as to enhance effectiveness of extension agents’ as
well as constraints militating against their effectiveness to need to
remediated for success of extension delivery.
Agricultural
Development Programme (ADPs) introduced to promote agricultural and rural
development in Nigeria incorporated dissemination of improved cassava varieties
to rural farmers. An examination of the effectiveness of extension agents in
disseminating selected improved cassava varities among rural farmers in Imo
State, Nigeria is necessary to enhance the understanding of the way forward for
agriculture and rural development in Nigeria. This study wall be of benefit to
stakeholders in agriculture and rural development in the study area and Nigeria
as a whole namely-government policy makers, international donor organizations,
non-governmental organizations, researchers, women farmers, and farm families,
in policies, decisions and actions relating to improved cassava varieties in
the study area and the country as a whole.
Apart
from adding to existing literatures on improved cassava varieties,
dissemination, adoption or utilization This study is undertaken to provide an
independent and impartial revelation of the effect (positive and negative) of
this landmark policy and also reveal its weaknesses and strengths. This was to
help all concerned to understand how the technology was received, and give an
insight on how the farmers view the technology and how they, their families and
the rural areas have fared. The results of this work have provided a feedback
which will enable agricultural planners to modify and refine on-going cassava
production technology, evaluate successes and failures. This could provide
lessons for future planning and investment in agriculture in Nigeria to the
benefit of all concerned with agriculture, rural development and poverty
reduction. it will also provide relevant information for planning and strategy
for sustainable growth of cassava based agro-industry and socio-economic
upliftment of rural households in cassava production.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The
scope of the study covered Imo State, Nigeria. It was delimited to the
effectiveness of extension agents in disseminating selected improved cassava
varieties. The study describe the personal demographic characteristics of
extension agents, ascertain improved cassava varieties disseminated among rural
farmers, determine extension agents level of effectiveness in disseminating
selected improved cassava varieties, ascertain preferred communication channel
used by extension agents, identify strategies for enhancing effectiveness and
ascertain constrains affecting extension agents effectiveness in the study
area.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Effectiveness: The
ability to be successful and produce the intended results.
Extension
agent: Anadvisor employed by the
government to assist people in rural areas with methods of farming, and the
process of spreading information, knowledge, opinions widely.
Dissemination:
Is a process that involves moving an innovation from one party to the other, in
this case cassava improved varieties.
Improved cassava
varieties: Are high yielding cassava aimed at
improving on the yield of cassava.
Pro Vitamin A cassava:
Is a genetically improved cassava variety containing B-carotene which has the
potential for the alleviation of vitamin A deficiency in low income population
like rural farmer households.
1.9 LIMITATION
OF STUDY
In
the course of this study, certain limitations were encountered. To get through
the extensions in the circles in order to interview them was not easy. Another
limitation was the high cost of transportation to cover the study area. In
addition, inadequate funds to support the study slow movement at when planned.
However, efforts was put in place to overcome these problems or limitations in
order to reduce time frame for data collection.
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