FARMERS’ PERCEPTION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF EXTENSION STRATEGIES DEPLOYED IN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENDA SUPPORT PROGRAMME IN KANO AND NIGER STATES, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed how farmers perceived the extension delivery strategies deployed under the agricultural transformation agenda support programme in Kano and Niger. In carrying out the study, 235 sorghum farmers participating in the programme in both states were randomly selected using multi-stage random sampling procedure. The data collected through a structure questionnaires were analysed using mean and t-test of significant. The result shows that farmers found the extension strategies deployed to be effective and the study found no significant difference between the population and sample mean at 95% confident level. The most effective strategy of stimulating farmer-to-farmer exchanges and technology dissemination while the other strategies, though effective, was rated least includes involving farmers in all stages of research and development, allowing technologies to be better compare and adapted to local conditions; empowering farmers as diagnostic problem-solver in the future; and building farmers capacity to source information