ABSTRACT
This study investigated the role of agricultural extension workers in the development of agriculture in Nigeria. In the course of this study, three objectives were raised and they were: to examine the roles of agricultural workers in the development of agriculture in Nigeria, to determine the attitudes of agricultural extension workers towards the development of agriculture in Nigeria and to assess out the contributions of agricultural extension workers towards the development of agriculture in Nigeria. The findings from this research will be useful for the administration to make future strategies and to increase the productivity of the Agricultural extension workers. Increase in the productivity of the employees will be beneficial for the progress of the Agricultural sector.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Agriculture has always been recognized as the most essential sector of the economy of any developing country. Developments in this sector have, therefore, frequently attracted attention of governments, scholars, and citizens of these countries as well as international organizations from developed countries. This has been particularly true in Nigeria where declining productivity and rising population in the last two decades have led to a growing concern over the requirement and opportunity for agricultural' development. In response, the government has established a number of agricultural development programs, research centers, and capital intensive agricultural schemes as systematic efforts to raise production. In addition, the World Bank has been brought into the scene and has established integrated rural development projects in many parts of the country.
For Nigerian agriculture to improve, our farmers have no alternative but to learn and adopt recommended scientific farming techniques in place of their traditional practices. In order to bring the best out of farmers, they need to be properly trained and educated on how to use some machinery on the farm. This is due to the fact that the new ideas are usuallydifficultto understand by most of our farmers. Nigeria cannot achieve increased agricultural productivity on rural farm level, except through the provision of basic agricultural education, particularly, the non-formal or extension type that will help move the farmers from old ways of farmingto modern ways. It is not very easy to define agricultural extension in a short concise, phrase or statement. However, several academicians in the area of agriculture defined extension in different ways, all ending on the improvement of the standard of living of the farmers. Fisher (1983) defined extension as a system of education extending beyond the classroom to individuals on the farms and is available to every member of the family. Fisher, thus, analyzed extension in terms of family approach system whereby all members of the family are taking into consideration in planning extension programme. Asiabaka (2002) viewed Extension from modern perspective and thus, explained it from the aim, which extension seek to accomplish; which is to teach both the rural and urban clientele how to determine their challenges and be able to rise to such problems using their own resources. Obibuaku (1983) saw extension as an informal system of education meant to improve the living standard of the local people who did not have the opportunity of formal education.
Sustainable farming and natural resource management is relatively knowledge intensive' requiring the application of general ecological principles to a specific situation. Joint problem solving with clients, leading to an enhanced ability to identify and solve problems, will be an appropriate way of influencing their future behaviour. Extension usually aimed at transferring of technology to the building up of strong rural organisations which can exert influence over future research and policy agenda, and also take and enforce collective decisions over natural resource management. A shift towards the latter will promote more sustainable agricultural development. Many of the environmental problems which affect small-scale farmers, however, can only be solved through collective decisions and action. Majority of food produced in Nigeria is gotten from small scale farmers. This implies that the agricultural development in Nigeria depends on the production in the local communities. Ojipon (2009) opine that Nigerian agriculture comprises mainly of small scale farmers who still use traditional farming methods to till the soil for seed planting.
Therefore, it is important to point out that attaining the goal of sustainable agriculture is the responsibilities of all participants in the systems, including farmers, laborers, policy makers, researchers, retailers, agricultural extension workers, consumers and the community. Each group has its own part to play, and its own unique contribution to make in order to strengthen the sustainable agriculture community (David, 2010). It is in the light of this that this study sought to investigate the role of agricultural extension workers in the development of agriculture in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Agricultural extension in developed countries is an important communication system. Although it has great and obvious potential contribution for agricultural and rural development in developing countries, agricultural extension seems to be relatively ineffective. It has been widely accepted that the performances of agricultural extension systems in developing countries have fallen short of expectations. A general impression has been created that extension systems in developing countries are 'sick babies which have not been able to generate much adoption of improved agricultural technologies and Improvement In agriculture and rural life. This situation suggests that the role performance of extension workers is problematic and contributes to the general challenge in Nigerian agriculture. One of the key Issues in the effectiveness of Nigerian agricultural extension is role impact. The roles and Impacts of extension workers’ activities are highly varied and often ineffective. The question becomes one of explaining the differential roles and impacts. This provides the rationale for focusing on the extension delivery system.
1.3 Research Questions
This research will be carried out to answer the following research questions:
i) what are the roles of agricultural workers in the development of agriculture in Nigeria?
ii) what are the attitudes of agricultural extension workers towards the development of agriculture in Nigeria?
iii) what are the contributions of agricultural extension workers towards the development of agriculture in Nigeria?
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of this study is toinvestigate the role of agricultural extension workers in the development of agriculture in Nigeria.The specific objectives include:
i) to examine the roles of agricultural workers in the development of agriculture in Nigeria
ii) to determine the attitudes of agricultural extension workers towards the development of agriculture in Nigeria
iii) to assess out the contributions of agricultural extension workers towards the development of agriculture in Nigeria
1.5 Significance of the Study
Knowing the impact played by agriculture it will go a long way to encourage both the individual, government and nongovernmental organizations to see reason why they have to give more attention to agricultural extension in the country. Also, in an attempt to evaluate the impact of agricultural extension, problems faced by agricultural extension will be look into and possible solution will be suggested which if duly followed will heap in educating and alerting existing agricultural extension agents as a result new agents on what to expect as an extension worker.
1.6 Scope of the Study
This study will be carried in some agricultural farms in some selected in the country toinvestigate the role of agricultural extension workers in the development of agriculture in Nigeria
1.7 Limitation of the study
The study will be faced with a lot of challenges and one it the problem of finance. There is not going to be enough funds to print questionnaires and to also transport the researcher to meet the desired respondents. Another one is time; the researcher is currently busy with the demand of his academics. A lot of assignments are available for the researcher to do and coupled with his desire to read and learn at the same time. These are the major challenges of this study.
1.8 Definitions of Terms
The following terms were used in the course of this study:
Agricultural extension:is the application of scientific research and knowledge to agricultural practices through farmer education. Generally, agricultural extension can be defined as the “delivery of information inputs to farmers.
Agriculture:the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.
Development: the act or process of growing or causing something to grow or become larger or more advanced
Workers:a person who produces or achieves a specified thing
