FARMERS’ PERCEPTION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FARMER-TO-FARMER EXTENSION APPROACH IN SOUTHERN BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study assessed farmer’s perception of the effectiveness of farmer-to-farmer extension approach to dissemination of crop and livestock technologies in southern Borno State, Nigeria. FtFE Approach focuses on farmers rather than the extension agents as the principal agents of change in their community. Three-stage sampling technique was used to select 150 respondents. Data were collected with the aid of questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive (frequency, percentage and mean score) and inferential statistics. The analyzed data revealed s age, sex, marital status and educational qualification determined the dissemination of improved crop and livestock technologies in the communities. Overall effectiveness scores showed high effectiveness for increased uptake of technology (x̅ = 3.8) and increased contact (x̅ = 3.7), respectively. The study concludes that dissemination of information on improved crop and livestock technologies through the FtFE have great potentials in improving agricultural extension delivery in the area. The study recommends the encouragement of more educational campaigns, capacity development trainings, supervision and monitoring of FtFE processes by the policy makers and stakeholder in order to sustain the approach.