Assessment of veterinary extension services to livestock farmers in Egba Division, Ogun-State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined operational modes of providing veterinary extension services to livestock farmers in Egba-Division, Ogun-State Nigeria. Information was obtained from 120 livestock farmers and 8 extension agents selected through multi-stage random sampling technique with the use of both structured questionnaire and interview schedule. The study revealed that veterinary extension services to the livestock farmers were inadequate. Identified constraints include inadequate funding, lack of transportation facilities and poor incentives among others. Chi-square results revealed significant relationship between effectiveness of veterinary extension services and adoption of innovations by livestock farmers (c2cal. = 49.33; c2tab. = 18.55; p<0.05) while there was no significant relationship between effectiveness of veterinary extension services and constraints faced by veterinary extension agents (c2 cal = 10.83; c2 tab=29.30, p>0.05). These results revealed that effective contact with extension services was crucial to increased adoption of innovations by livestock farmers and that despite the identified constraints veterinary extension agents could still strive to perform using self initiatives as at when necessary.


(Af. J. of Livestock Extension: 2003 2: 30-36)