PERCEIVED EFFECTIVENESS OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AGENTS IN ENHANCING INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES AMONG CROP FARMERS IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the effectiveness of agricultural extension agents in promoting income generation activities among crop farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined the roles of agricultural extension agents in promoting income-generation, assessed perceived effectiveness of agricultural extension agents and identified constraints militating against income generation activities. A two-stage random sampling procedure was used to select 268 crop farmers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviation while inferential statistics (PPMC) was used to test the hypothesis. Results showed that 87.4% of the respondent’s generated income from sales of farm produce while only few (0.7%) were involved in agro-chemical industries income generating activities. Common roles of Agricultural extension agents (AEAs) were that they provide advice on modern farming techniques and technologies that can increase farmers income (x̄ = 1.44) and networks for knowledge sharing and collaboration opportunities (x̄ = 1.43) while identifying and solving pest or disease issues that could affect my crop yields and income (x̄ = 1.38) was the least role among AEAs.  Effectiveness of extension agents in promoting income generating activities was low with (x̄ 1.19).  Major constraint was input cost (x̄=2.87). Results indicate a significant positive correlation between sex, years of formal education, size of farm land, income realized per season and the effectiveness of extension agents in income generation at (P<0.05). It was concluded that effects of agricultural extension agents in enhancing income generation activities among crop farmers was low.  The study   recommends that extension agents policies fostering participation in income generation activities be inclusive to better the wellbeing of crop farmers.