Arable Crop Farmers’ Use of Private Extension Services in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the arable crop farmers’ use of private extension services in Ondo State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 95 respondents in the study area and data were collected through an interview schedule.  Data analysis was carried out using percentages and mean statistics. The study revealed there were few private extension service providers, and most (44.2%) of the arable crop farmers did not use private extension services. It also revealed that the respondents had an unfavourable attitude toward private extension services with a grand mean of 2.82. It was further revealed that only a few private extension providers were available to arable crop farmers. The farmers also believed that private extension could not provide all the services required for their agricultural production. The main constraint to private extension was that services of private extension were often geared to meeting the providers’ organizational needs (. The study concluded that farmers had unfavourable attitude to private extension. The study recommended a pluralistic approach to extension services and increased awareness to enlighten farmers about the importance of private extension services.