International Journal of Agricultural Science Research and Technology in Extension and Education Systems
Volume:4 Issue: 4, Dec 2014

Beekeeping as a technology package disseminated to target farmers in Nigeria seems to suffer setbacks ranging from negative perception of farmers about the technology to technical contents of the package. This study therefore analyzes the technology attributes that influence non adoption of apiary technology packages in Cross River State, Nigeria. Purposive and multistage random sampling techniques were used to select sixty (60) apiary farmers. Data for the study were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics such as; frequency counts, mean scores and percentages and inferential statistics (bivariate probit analysis). The socio-economic characteristics of the farmers indicate that majority (93.33%) of the farmers were males, with mean age of 38.50 years, mean farming experience of 11.5 years, mean annual farm income of N175, 500 (973.97USD) and mean number of 9 hives. The result also revealed that the farmers adopted apiary technology packages such as; setting of hive (    =3.6) and baiting of bee hives (    =3.1) with mean adoption score of 2.5 and an adoption index of 32%. The result of bivariate probit regression estimates showed that coefficients for complexity of technology, adaptability of technology and technical competency influenced non adoption of apiary technologies by farmers in the study area. The study therefore recommends increase in number of extension contacts, cooperative formation and adequate campaign on beekeeping to facilitate adoption of apiary technologies in the study area.

The purpose of this study is to identify the barriers of application of precision farming in the view of agricultural researchers in Khouzestan province. The research method was survey. Agricultural researchers in Khouzestan province considered as statistical population (N=136). All researchers considered as sample size by census method.  After designing and validating the questionnaire, the questionnaire was pre-tested among 30 people and Cronbach alpha 0.753 was determined. The main tool was a questionnaire. In this study, after the collection and classification of data, data analysis and according to the type of research in two stages using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were taken. All data processing and statistical analysis was performed using the software SPSS 19. For analysis data, correlative coefficients and factor analysis were used. The results of the factor analysis indicate that lack of educational activity and managerial practices, lack of knowledge and information, lack of technical infrastructure, lack of support services, non-compliance with the conditions of farmers are five factors that explains about 57.65% of the variance barriers to the application of precision agriculture.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between university education and agricultural students' entrepreneurial spirit. To do this study, 150 samples were selected by using stratified random sampling methods among senior students both on graduated and undergraduates levels in Bu-Ali Sina University. Data collection tool was a researcher made questionnaire  which  its  validity  was  verified  by  a  group  of  experts and  professors. The reliability of the questions was tested during a pre-test process using a Cronbach's alpha test and it was between 0.75 and 0.93. Descriptive results showed that entrepreneurial spirit of the students was between moderate to high and among entrepreneurial spirit indicators the amount of self-confidence was highest but risk taking was the lowest. The results of Pearson test revealed that university education at each three level of knowledge and skill, social-communicational, and individual had a significant relationship with entrepreneurial spirit of the agricultural students.

The purpose of this study was to examine farm operations cooperation groups in Central Agricultural Zone of Delta State, Nigeria. All the members of the six  selected groups were used for the study. The data which were collected with the use of questionnaire and interview schedule were analyzed with the use of frequency counts, percentages and Tobit regression model. Most of the members were females and were also mostly married. Most of them were educated formally and had average household size of 5 persons and average farm size of 2.5 ha. They had an average farming experience of 13 years and most of them had no contact with extension agents. Household members emigrated from most (76.50%) households. They subscribed to these groups because of reduction of labour cost, timely execution and conclusion of farm operations, exchange of ideas and information, expansion of farm size and reduction of drudgery involved in farming. They were mostly satisfied with their various groups. They however had challenges ranging from irregular meeting attendance, inadequate access to extension service, too high membership strength to lateness to work. Inadequate membership strength was also a constraint to few of the groups. The farmers’ decision to subscribe to their various groups was informed or influenced by their marital status, level of education, household size, farm size, farming experience, extension visit contact with other farmers, and emigration of household members. It was recommended that extension agents should establish frequent contacts with the various groups and educate them on the importance of time and regular meeting attendance. The groups with bloated membership strength should be split into two groups while farmers need to be encouraged to subscribe to those groups with inadequate membership strength.

T he study examined factors influencing the adoption of improved cassava processing technologies. Interview schedule was used to collect information from 100 rural women involved in cassava processing. The average age of the respondents was 51 years and majority (77%) had formal education. The women’s main source of information on the improved cassava processing technologies was through the WIA (extension) agents. Years spent on formal education, household size and credit accessibility had significant and positive influence on adoption of the improved technologies. Age had a significant but negative influence while membership of social organization and number of extension contact had no significant influence on the adoption. The WIA (extension) agents should intensity their contact with the women. The women should be engaged in more training programmes to learn more about the improved cassava processing technologies in order to improve their livelihood.

This study examined farmers’ perception and adoption of yam minisett technology. The study was carried out in Anambra State, Nigeria. A sample size of 120 yam farmers was used for the study. Data were collected using a structured and validated interview schedule. Data generated for the study were summarized using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and mean scores while the Sigma method was used for calculating adoption scores to ascertain the level of adoption for the various yam minisett technology items. Results of the study revealed that there were more male yam farmers (82 percent) than females. The mean age of respondents was 45 years and the mean household size was 11 persons. Also, a mean farming experience of 12 years was found for the respondents. Results on perception of yam minisett technology reveal that respondents had favourable perception on four statements out of the thirteen statements used to investigate their perception. These were statements 5, 6, 11 and 12. The remaining 9 statements were not favourably perceived. They include statements 1-4; 7-10 and 13. There was a low adoption of 7 and an average adoption of 2 yam minisett technology items with an overall adoption score of 3.38, which indicates a low utilization of yam minisett technology by the yam farmers. The study recommends that more awareness should be created about the benefits of the technology and farmers should be trained on how to effectively use the technology.

This study compared the use of interpersonal and mass media channels of communication among rural farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socio economic characteristics of the farmers, determine the influence of socioeconomic characteristics on the usage of interpersonal and media channels, ascertain farmers’ level of awareness of interpersonal and media channels and compare farmers’ preference to interpersonal and media channels in the study area. Primary data was used for the study. Data used were collected from the four agricultural zones (A, B, C and D) in the State. A total of 240 respondents were used for the study. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, logit regression analysis and z-test. Results of the findings showed that majority of the sampled respondents were literate male farmers in their active productive age, with an average household size of 7 members and a mean annual farm income of N 137,756. Number of years spent in school significantly influenced the use of interpersonal and mass media channels of communication at 10% level of significance. The findings further indicated that 94.6% and 77.9% of the respondents were aware of interpersonal and mass media channels of communication respectively. However, farmers in the area mostly preferred mass media channel to interpersonal channel of communication. The study recommends that rural radio booster stations and community rural television stations should be established to feature special programmes targeted at rural farmers in their local languages. To ensure regular availability and accessibility to extension agents, efforts should be made to employ more extension agents.

The study examined the role of information communication technologies in extension delivery of Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of Nigeria.  The objectives were to: examine the agricultural extension delivery of ATA; identify ICTs relevant in agricultural extension and application of ATA; examine roles of ICTs in extension of ATA and identify constraints to the use of ICTs in extension delivery.  The study is a review research which was based on secondary data collected from Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, related literatures and internet. The study identified roles of ICTs in extension in ATA to include bridging the information gap for rural farmers with respect to innovative practices; farmers' access to government policies; farmers' access to information about input availability, credit facilities and weather vagaries.  Some of the constraints to the use of ICTs were identified to include, erratic and fluctuating power supply, poor finance, lack of internet access in the rural areas and high cost of ICTs hard and soft wares.  It was recommended that for more impact of the ICTs application in agriculture to be felt by extension agents and farmers alike, government and private sector investors should carryout massive human capacity development of agricultural extension officers in the various ICT tools which are  applicable in agricultural sector, carry out awareness creation and sensitization of rural farmers of the opportunities they have in the use of ICTs, include the use of video-conferencing among stakeholders for meetings to reduce distant travels.