Socio-economic Factors Influencing Extension Workers’ Effective use of Knowledge Management in Agricultural Extension Services

Abstract

The study assessed the factors influencing extension workers effective use of Knowledge Management (KM) in
Sokoto State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling procedure was used to sample respondents from the study area and
Extension Workers were selected from Sokoto Agricultural Development Project (SADP). Socio-economic
characteristics were using structured questionnaire and a total of 188 respondents were sampled and data collected
analysed using descriptive statistics and logit model as tools of analysis. The result of the study showed that 74.4% of
the extension workers were male and majority (79.8%) were married. More so, 35% of the extension workers are
within the age range of 31 – 40 years with household average size of 5-10 children. Majority (79%) of the extension
workers had tertiary education. (35%) had experience ranging from 21-25 years on extension service delivery. About
41% of respondents used motor cycle as a mean of transportation. Result of logit model shows that marital status,
level of education, service experience, cosmopolitness and means of transportation had positive and significant
relationship with effectiveness of KM whereas household size and rank of extension workers had significant and
negative relationship with KM. It is therefore recommended that KM be encouraged and disseminated through top
management approach in SADP. This will avail quality and better extension service delivery by extension agency
because the vast knowledge and experience garnered on effective extension service delivery by top management
officer will be shared and passed on to junior officers. This will go in line with strengthening and improving the
capacity building of extension workers.