CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The economic background of Nigeria cannot be checked without recourse to the impact of agriculture. It has been viewed as an essential precondition for economic development (Jones & Wolf, 1969). This is due to the fact that it has the prospective to spring-board industrial development. The experience of some developed nations is a striking instance of how agriculture can advance beyond its key role of providing food and fibre (Humbert, 2000). At the earliest stage (first decade of independence), Nigeria's economic planning and development was based on agriculture that made some to have described the Nigerian economic situation as an agricultural economy (Ogen 2003). Agriculture adds tremendously to the Nigerian economy in different ways specifically, in the provision of food for the increasing population; supply of sufficient raw materials (and labour input) to a growing industrial sector; a significant source of employment; generation of international exchange earnings; and, provision of a market for the products of the industrial sector (Okunmadewa, 1997; World Bank, 1998).
The exploration and expedition of oil and its boom has nevertheless resulted in the disregard of the agricultural sector. This was either due to private and government's lackadaisical attitude, and inappropriate policy environment at the expense of the expected increasing national wealth and food nourishment. A number of policies have likewise been employed by successful governments in an effort to revamp the sector. In spite of these initiatives, the success of any of these plans was very little and efficiency in the sector has continued to be low when compared to global average because of the insufficient public spending, several years of underinvestment, corruption and mismanagement which have made the industry retrogressive. Furthermore, from the mid-70s, Nigeria became a net importer of different agricultural items (Alkali, 2007). Additionally, the private sector as well has the tendency to neglect the agricultural industry for lack of rewards, while credit and investment flow towards the energy, construction, and solutions sectors.
Nevertheless, in spite of the slow growth of agriculture and food production in Nigeria, agriculture still continues to be the bedrock of the rural economy in Nigeria. It is having actually a strong hold on the national economy of the country, Nigeria and providing significant entrepreneurial opportunities to a large chunk of the population, mainly on a subsistent degree (Central Bank of Nigeria, 2006). Increased agricultural extension services depends mainly upon the approval of cultural and technological adjustments at the rural farm level. Therefore, for Nigeria farming to improve, farmers have no option than to find out and embrace recommended scientific farming methods instead of their conventional methods. Nigeria cannot accomplish increased agricultural efficiency on rural farm level, except with the provision of fundamental agricultural education, especially the non-formal or extension type that will aid move millions of the farmers from conventional to modern farming, thus enhancing the overall quality of rural life (Anaeto, et al., 2012). There is no question that agricultural extension is essential in improving the agricultural industry in several parts of the world for the benefit of small farmers, sustainability and income convergence in time (Umar & Mahmood, 2007). Effective extension solution is an important element for enhancing the great deal of country farmers, especially in the developing nations (Ani, 2007). Studies like Walker et al. (2004) to name a few insist that agricultural extension had a negative and statistically unimportant effect on private and home earnings. In view of the foregoing, this study was designed to investigate the Contributions of agricultural extension services to national development in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
In Nigeria, agriculture is yet to get its due focus from the government at all levels. Farmers are not satisfactorily motivated and because of this, their output has dropped short of the food needed by the nation's populace. The idea behind the founding of agricultural Extension services is to showcase agricultural production in the nation and therefore add to the economic and social development. Sadly, the services by the extension workers have fallen short of farmers demand and therefore agricultural production continued to be inadequate. The food needed by people are insufficient. Amongst the reasons for this are: majority of farmers are peasant, agricultural extension workers are insufficient and inadequately supported by the government, improved livestock, seedlings, executes and contemporary farming devices are insufficient. There is likewise bit or no infrastructural facilities which helps with agricultural programme. Then how can the aims for the establishment of agricultural extension be accomplished for the purposes of playing a great role of contributing to the economic and social development of Nigeria? This motivated researcher's quest for the study.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of this study is to examine the contributions of agricultural extension services to national development in Nigeria. However, the following are the specific objectives:
i) To establish the relationship between agricultural extension and social and economic development of Nigeria.
ii) To understand the benefits of agricultural extension programmes to the farmers of Nigeria.
iii) To find out the awareness of farmers on the various agricultural extension programmes in their localities.
1.4 Research Questions
Below are the research questions for this study:
i) What is the relationship between agricultural extension and social and economic development of Nigeria?
ii) What are the benefits of agricultural extension programmes to the farmers of Nigeria?
iii) What is the awareness of farmers on the various agricultural extension programmes in their localities?
1.5 Research Hypotheses
Below are the research hypotheses for this study:
i) There is no significant relationship between agricultural extension and social and economic development of Nigeria.
ii) Agricultural extension programmes do not have benefits on the farmers of Nigeria
iii) There is no significant relationship between awareness of farmers and the various agricultural extension programmes in their localities
1.6 Significance of the Study
The findings of this study will help the farmers to be aware of various agricultural extension programmes in Nigeria particularly in their regions. This help to improve agricultural production. Also, farmers will understand the need to form and stay long in cooperative societies, the benefits of cooperative societies will motivate the farmers to form societies. The diverse needs of students, academics, policy makers will be given attention. For students, this work will pool together and provide them with disparate strands of thought and authoritative educational material in rural development. For academics, it will contribute to agricultural extension development debate, and provide further scholarly information. For policy makers and development officials, the works will augment the data base and scholarly directions for effective agricultural extension development policy and action. The cooperators will benefit as it informs them on how to improve their economic activities. This study will also form literature for further studies.
1.7 Scope of the Study
As the title reveals, this study deals with the contributions of agricultural extension services to national development in Nigeria. Thus, it is essentially targeted at determining the contributions of various agricultural extension programmes to the farmers. In the case of this study, we shall use farmers in Oyo, Oyo State as a case study.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
In the course of collection of data, the researcher had a lot of problems and they curtailed the availability of information. The most outstanding problems encountered by the researcher were as follows:
Location of places to visit, some of the offices and ministries were a bit difficult.
Co-operation with the management committee went well, as they were convinced of the need for this research work but some of the questionnaires were not correctly filled and returned.
All these aforementioned would have had a good limitation on the outcome of this work, but despite that the researcher went at great length to surmount them and to make profitable academic contributions.
