ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION ON TRAINING NEEDS OF EXTENSION AGENTS IN YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed impact of Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) on training of extension personnel in Yobe State, Nigeria. Multiple sampling techniques was used in selecting the fifty two extension personnel were selected. Primary data was obtained using structured questionnaires and analyzed using both descriptive statistics. The results revealed that majority of the respondents were male, married and had attended certain levels of formal education. Also the result revealed that extension agents had an average age of 42.6 years. The findings further shows an average of 16.0 years of experience, also with an average of 9.0 persons per households. Postharvest handling (98.1%), pest and disease management (98.1%), value addition (92.3%), fertilizer application (88.5%), extension teaching methods (88.5%) were found to be the major areas of training provided by NGOs to extension personnel. Inadequate funding (100%), inadequate extension agents (96.2%), lack of incentives/motivations (96.2%) and administrative bottleneck (82.7%) were the major constraints faced by the extension personnel. The study concluded that extension personnel had received various training from the NGOs. The study recommends that should form associations/cooperatives and pull down resources collectively to increases their access to inputs. Also NGOs should be encouraged more to support agricultural extension services in the study area.