Extension Activities for Arable Crops Production in Akure South Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined agricultural extension activities for arable crops production in Akure South Local Government Area (LGA), Ondo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select respondents. Data were collected using interview schedule, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square. Most respondents (65.6%) were male, 77.1% had formal education with a mean age of 47 years and an average household size of five (4). Furthermore, 80.2% had less than five hectares of land for arable crop farming while 40% of the respondents farmed for family consumption only. Major source of extension services was government agencies. The most accessed services were; choosing of planting dates and introduction to improved seedlings with a mean score of 3.18 and 3.13 respectively. A significant relationship existed between farmers’ perception about extension service and most socio economic characteristics such as; age (χ2 =57.92, P≤0.05) and farm size (χ2 = 65.283, P≤0.05). The study concluded that extension services in the study area were highly accessed and that farmers have high perception about extension services. It recommends more private agencies participation in extension services.

Keywords: Extension service, arable crop farmers and perception.