Comparative analysis of the role of for-profit and non-profit private organizations in agricultural extension

Abstract

The increasing private sector\'s participation in agricultural extension delivery is,
complimenting significantly contributing to the public sector\'s effort. It is essential to understand how different private organizations with nuances and goals set about their
extension service delivery to the mutual benefit of both the service provider and the
clientele. This study investigated and compared the roles of for-profit the British American Tobacco Company and non-profit private organizations of the Farmers Development Union and the Diocesan Agricultural Development Programme in agricultural extension service delivery in South-western Nigeria. Data were collected using interview schedule from 218 for-profit and 304 non-profit organizations\' clientele selected by multistage random sampling technique, totalling 522 respondents. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Mean ages of respondents varied between 49.6 years and 47.1 years for profit-oriented and non-profit private organizations, respectively. At least 95% for-profit participants were married compared with 74.6% of the non-profit private organizations\' clientele. In the case of non-profit organizations there were significant relationships between the level of achievement and gender (x2 = 13.74, p < .01), land tenure status (x2 = 22.33, p <0 .01), cosmopoliteness

South African Journal of Agricultural Extension Vol. 35 (1) 2006: pp. 23-36