ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS INFLUENCING UTILIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES (AES) BY SMALLHOLDER MAIZE FARMERS IN TWO SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF KADUNA STATE

Abstract

The study assessed the factors influencing utilization of agricultural extension services (AES) by smallholder farmers in two selected Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. A Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 293 smallholder maize farmers. Primary data were gathered using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean) and inferential statistics (Multiple regression) were employed to achieve the study’s objectives. Results on the socioeconomic characteristics revealed that 29.7% of the farmers were within the ages of 31–40 years which forms the majority with a mean age of 39.03 years. Most (86.3%) of the respondents were male and result also revealed that majority (85.7%) of the respondents are married. Considerable numbers of respondents (43.7%) were literate having at least secondary education. Result on factors influencing the utilization of AES revealed that age (p<0.10), marital status (p<0.10), farming experience (p<0.05), farm income (p<0.05), yield (p<0.05), and number of extension contact (p<0.01) significantly influenced the smallholder maize farmers utilization of AES in the study area. The major constraints affecting the effectiveness of AES included high cost of farm input (92.2%), and high labour cost (82.9%). The concluded that improving farmers' access to extension services, while addressing the financial and institutional constraints faced by smallholder farmers, will enhance the utilization of agricultural extension services. It is therefore recommended that addressing infrastructural and security challenges will further improve the effect of AES and increase maize productivity in the study area.