EFFECT OF VITAMINS C AND E INTAKE ON BLOOD ... - EuroJournals

European Journal of Social Sciences - Volume 2, Number 1 (2006)
An Assessment of the Contact between Agricultural Extension
Agents and Farmers in Delta State of Nigeria
Ofuoku, A. U. and Uzokwe, U.
Department of agricultural economics and extension,
Delta state university,
Asaba campus, nigeria.
Abstract
Agricultural Development Programme was established with the aim of promoting food,
Production ensure self-sufficiency. To achieve this aim, the programme embarked on
extension service to farmers and the major strategy employed is the Training and Visit (T
& V) system. This implies fortnightly visits to farmers, especially the contract farmers. One
hundred and ninety-five respondents which include 35 Agricultural Extension
Administrators; 40 Extension Agents; 60 Contact Farmers; and 60 Non-Contact Farmers
were randomly selected, but Contact Farmers were systematically selected for this study.
The results showed that the overall evaluation by the respondents on the extension services
was good. The Contact Farmers had more contact with the Extension Agents than the Non-
Contact Farmers. Transportation problem was the major constraint of Agricultural
Extension Agents. It was recommended that Delta State ADP should extend their services
equally to formers; the quality and number of extension staff be increased; and service
amenities be provided for Extension Officers especially transport facilities.
Key Words: Assessment, Contact, Agricultural Extension Agents, Farmers, Delta State,
Nigeria.
Introduction
Agricultural Extension process is mainly carried out in Delta State, Nigeria by the State’s Agricultural
Development Project (ADP). The Agricultural Development Project (ADP) was conceived as a framework
involving investment in agriculture to improve the level of iving of the resource – poor farmers
(Chukwu, 1997). The ADP system is based on the assumption that agricultural productivity can be
enhanced with a combination of appropriate technology, effective extension, access to physical inputs,
adequate market and other infrastructural facilities (Alabi, 1987). ADPs motivate rural farmers towards
better and improved plant and animal production practices through a systematic extension system.
The specific objectives of the ADP were to promote the production of food, to achieve selfsufficiency
in food in the state and provide basic communication network that would facilitate
increased food production. The farmers are reached by the ADP through a revitalized agricultural
extension system that integrates extension Worker’s training and farm visits, and a two-way
communication between farmers and researchers. According to Asiabaka (1987), ADPs also employ an
intensive training strategy based on the Training and Visit (T & V) strategy to reach the rural clientele.
This helps to motivate small-scale farmers to produce more food cheaply.
The regular contact of extension workers with farmers under the Training and Visit system
makes effective linkages between research and extension (Benor and Baxter, 1984).
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