Role of agricultural extension services in generation and dissemination of agricultural biotechnology in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Agricultural biotechnology has demonstrated that it can play a role in raising the level of food, feed and fibre production. However, for agricultural biotechnology to be effective and beneficial to the target end-user, agricultural extension services must be effective in achieving high rates of adoption. This study was undertaken to ascertain the role of extension services in generation and disseminating agricultural biotechnology in Abia state, Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 80 respondents (researchers, extension professionals and farmers), through the use of structured questionnaire and interview schedule. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. The results of the study reveal that, the major role of extension services includes; improving the linkages between public and private sectors involvement in agricultural biotechnology, involvement of end users (farmers) to participate in issues relating to biotechnology research and development, and developing the appropriate mechanisms to transfer the research findings on agricultural biotechnology to the end users. The research determines that, the three groups of respondents (researchers, extension professionals and farmers) held similar opinions in regard to the role of extension services in facilitating the adoption of biotechnology.

Keywords: Agricultural extension, role, dissemination, adoption, agricultural biotechnology

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(6), pp. 554-562