Extension workers’ perception of effectiveness in climate change-related mitigation practices and information dissemination in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the perception of extension workers of the relevance and effectiveness in the dissemination of climate change-related  mitigation practices and information in Edo State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP). The forty seven (47) Extension workers in the ADP constituted the respondents for the study. Findings show that majority were males (51.06%), 40-49 years of age (55.32%) and had 10-20 years working experience (61.70%). Some of the climate change mitigation practices/information perceived as relevant were early-warning systems (mean=3.98), Fertilizer/soil nutrient enhancement (mean=3.96), produce drying (mean=3.95), resistant crop varieties (mean=3.88), tolerant livestock breeds/fish species (mean=3.63). The respondents perceived that they were effective in most of the practices/information disseminated such as flood control (mean=2.87), enterprise choice/selection (mean=2.81), erosion control (mean=2.83), and fertilizer/soil nutrient enhancement (mean=2.81) but not with the intensity to which they were relevant. Major constraints to the performance of the respondents were irregular work programme implementation (mean=2.68), poor road network (mean=2.68), inadequate official mobility (mean=2.64), insufficient allowance for extension workers (mean=2.55) and shortage of extension materials (mean=2.54). There were significant negative relationships between the respondents’ education (r=-0.231; p=0.038), working experience (r=-0.370; p=0.025) and climate change mitigation practices/information dissemination. The study recommends adequate funding of field activities and capacity building and motivation of especially the frontline extension staff by the State Government to enhance their performance.