Evaluation of advisory and extension services activities on in chikun lga of Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study evaluation advisory and extension services activities in Chuckun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. A total of 80 respondents were interviewed through a well structured interview schedule. Frequency counts, percentages and 4-point likert scale were use in data analysis. The findings reveals that majority (74.7%) of the respondents were between 21-40 years of age. While 63% were married. Furthermore, majority 53.16% had 1-5 members in their household while the majority 59.5% had no formal education. In addition 79.7% has more than 21 years of farming experience and 76% of them belong to one cooperative society or the other. Majority 74.7% of the respondents claimed they had no access to extension service and on the contrary, 76% of the respondents claimed that they had access to advisory services. The findings revealed that majority (76%) of the respondents who claimed that they had access to advisory admitted that it had a positive impact on them. The study also highlighted the perception of the seriousness of the constraints faced by the extension service which includes problem of funding, poor incentive for staff inadequate training of EAs, institutional bureaucracy and mobility and logistic problems which are considered as serious problems. On the contrary, the advisory service does not face the same serious problems as encountered by the conventional extension service. The study recommended revitalization of the extension system in Nigeria and that more private, public and non-governmental organizations should be encouraged to provide advisory services to farmers.