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

International Research Journal of Finance and Economics – Volume 2, Number I (2006)
Particular relevance and importance in T & V extension approach are the use of contact farmers, On-
Station Research (OSR), and On-Farm Training (OFT) on farmers’ farm, schedule of visit and training
sessions for block extension supervisors and extension agents by subject matter specialists.
Isife and Madukwe (1995) suggested that evaluation of the Fortnightly Training Programme of the
ADP is necessary to determine the extent to which the objective of the training programme is achieved,
and identify problem areas that need to be strengthened.
The ADP extension Agents in Delta State, in line with the above information have the
obligation of regular contact with the farmers. This is one of the reasons they should reside within their
circle. With this, prompt attention to farmers by extension will be achieved.
Objectives of the study
The objectives of the study were (i) determine the regularity of the contact between the extension
agents and farmers in Delta State, Nigeria. (ii) ascertain the problems facing extension agents in ADP
of Delta State.
Materials and Methods
The study area is one of the thirty six state in Nigeria. It comprises of twenty-five (25) Local
Government Areas.
The study was conducted with sample population of thirty-five (35) agricultural extension
administrators/supervisors from Delta State ADP and Ministry of Agriculture who operate in the area
of study. Systematic sample of sixty (60) contact farmers and random sample of sixty (60) non-contact
farmers were selected from the three agricultural zones of Delta State. Forty (40) extension agents in
the three agricultural zones of the state were randomly selected.
Two sets of questionnaire were used to generate data for this study. The first set was for the
agricultural extension staff, while the second set was for the farmers (contact and non-contact). To
avoid subjectivity, if ADP staff were allowed to interview farmers, agricultural science teachers with
teaching experience of five years and above, teaching in secondary schools located in the study area
were selected and hired to interview the farmers. The extension agents and administrators completed
their own questionnaire.
Five points Likert’s Scale was used for the possible responses that the respondents were asked
to make regarding each of the items: excellent scored 5, good scored 4, fair scored 3, poor scored 2 and
non-existent services scored 1. percentage, mean and Chi-Square X 2 were also employed in the
analysis of the data.
Results and discussion
The results of the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents are shown in Table 1.
Age:
Sixty-three percentage (63%) of the respondents were aged between 30 – 49 years. This indicates that
most of them are in the middle age bracket. Those in the age interval of 50 – 59 years made up 24%.
This group could be regarded as fairly old. Most of the Extension Administrators fall within this age
bracket. Those who were in 20 – 29 years made 11%. These are the young ones.
Gender:
Of all the respondents, 87% were males, while 13% were females. This does not mean that females
were not highly involved in agricultural activities in Delta State. Females in this part of Nigeria have
their own farms and also work in the ADP.
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