Evaluation Of Farmers\' Extension Education Needs In Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area Of Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study evaluated farmers extension education needs in Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo State, Nigeria. Data for the study was collected with the aid of questionnaire and interview from 124 randomly selected farmers in the study area. Data analysis was with the use of frequencies, percentages and Pearson correlation. Findings showed that most respondents were married (77%) and less than 40 years and hence physically active for agricultural activities. Most of the respondents (77%) were formally educated and had farm sizes less than 1 hectare. A great percentage of the respondents earned between N5, 000($38.46) and N15, 000($115.38) per month from their farm work. Also, about 50% of the respondents had farming experience of between 2 and 7 years which is moderate. However, most respondents (51.6%) had between 1 and 2 contacts with extension which is not very encouraging. The major areas where respondents needed extension education include preventing crop diseases (79.0%), obtaining fertilizer (77.4%), fertilizer use (74.2%), improving yields of livestock (71.0%), preventing livestock diseases (67.7%), and improving skills in agriculture (62.9%). Most respondents obtain agricultural information from their friends (50%). The major factors that influenced respondents' extension education needs were age, farming experience and farm size. It is therefore recommended that adequate extension services be made available to farmers and adequate awareness campaigns launched need to be created about the importance of improved agricultural practices so that farmers can improve their production in both crop and livestock sub-sectors.

Keywords: Extension education needs, Ohaji/Egbema local government area, Imo State, Nigeria

JOAFSS Vol. 4 (1) 2006: pp. 60-68