Abstract:
The study ascertained extension workers perceived effectiveness of extension strategies on crop
production in Abia state. One hundred and fourteen extension workers proportionately selected
from the three agricultural zones in the state constituted the sample for the study. Questionnaire
was used to extract the information needed from the respondents. Frequency, percentage, mean
score and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. Results show that all (100%) of the
extension workers were literate and mainly extension agents (65.6%). Greater proportion (64%)
was females and their mean number of years in extension work was 14 years. Farm and home
visits (92.1%), method demonstration (83.3%), general meetings (81.6%) and GSM/phones
(78.9%) were some of the strategies used in entrepreneurial extension service delivery in the
State. Farm and home visits were perceived to be effective in all pre-planting and post planting
operations of crop production. It was recommended that government should provide facilities
that will enhance the use of suitable entrepreneurial strategies for educating farmers and other
clients while extension workers should educate farmers with entrepreneurial extension strategies
on specific crop operations that they are effective so as to ensure success of extension
activities/programmes and agricultural development. |
