EFFECT OF EXTENSION SERVICES ON YAM PRODUCTION IN KWALI AREA COUNCIL, FCT ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine effect of extension services on yam production in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Its specific objectives are to identify effective method of extension service delivery and determine the technical efficiency of yam production in the study area. Eighty-four (84) respondents were randomly selected for the study using multi-stage sampling procedure, while structured questionnaire was used to collect the primary data. Descriptive Statistics and Stochastic Frontier Approach were used to analyze the data collected. The findings of the study revealed that majority (79.8%) of the respondents were in the age range of 21 – 50 years with mean age of 42 years. Also, 84.5% of the respondents were male and married, respectively. Majority (75.0%) of the respondents had household size of 1 – 10 people, while 46.4% had formal education implying that the educational levels of the farmers are low. The study also revealed that group method was the most effective means of extension service delivery as indicated by majority (80.9%) of the respondents, followed by the individual method 63.1% and mass media 50.0%. However, the stochastic frontier model result revealed mean technical efficiency of 0.9149 implying that about 91.5% of yam output was realised by the farmers from mix of production inputs through extension services delivery. Coefficients of technical efficiency for labour (7.29), yam seed (2.71) and agro-chemical (2.11) which were positive and statistically significant, while that of technical inefficiencies was experience (-0.987), extension contact (-0.170) and sex (-0.261) which were negative and statistically significant as well as education (0.459), age (0.491), farm size (0.464) and household size (0.393). Constraints indicated by the farmers among others were inadequate capital (63.1%), low price of produce (48.8%) and inadequate labour (26.2%). In conclusion, the farmers had contact with extension agents which have helped them to accept extension services on yam production. It was therefore recommended that extension education should be stepped up in the area to raise the farmers' awareness about innovations especially on improved yam seeds and fertilizer application.