Abstract:
The study compared the knowledge gaps in the unified agricultural extension services in three
geopolitical zones of southern Nigeria. Two specific objectives were developed for the study.
The study adopted descriptive survey research design and purposive sampling method was used
to select one State, 2ADP zones and four ADP blocks from each of the 3 geopolitical zones of
South-South, South-East, and South-West, making a total of 3 States, 6 ADP zones, 12 ADP
blocks and 12 ADP cells. Simple random sampling technique was finally used to select 60
extension agents (5 from each cell), and 444 registered contact farmers (37 from each cell),
which gave a total of five hundred and four (504) respondents and used for the study. Descriptive
statistics such as weighted mean scores and inferential tool such as ANOVA were used for the
analysis and test of significance, respectively. The finding of the study showed that professional
operations in the Unified Agricultural Extension Services has improved the technological
practices in the Southern geopolitical zones of Nigeria to a high extent (GM = 3.03), but with
more impact in the South-West (M = 3.38) and South-East (GM = 3.07) geopolitical zones. It
also revealed that knowledge gaps do not exist in the operation of the Unified Agricultural
Extension services in the three geopolitical zones (f-cal = 0.340 and f-crit = 3.28). The study
therefore, recommended that: 1) Professional operations in the Unified Agricultural Extension
Services should be encouraged in the South-South geopolitical zone in order to be on the same
page with the other zones in Nigeria. 2) Fortnight Training (FNT) sessions of the extension
agents should be emphasized and properly monitored to achieve continuous uniformity in
extension operation in the study areas, and 3) A unified extension package involving the State
Ministries of Agriculture, non-governmental agro agencies, extension professionals and the
farmers should be developed to encourage uniformity in extension method and service delivery
in Nigeria. |
