1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of Study
According to Narayanan (1991), the emphasis by national and international development agencies on production-oriented research and extension could be relevant, given the limited resources and the high priority assigned to meeting the food, agro-industrial and foreign exchange needs of development. However, FAO (1987) admitted that time and experience had shown that the lack of a well-functioning market can severely hinder the increase of agricultural production. And also those markets do not develop automatically.
Effective and efficient marketing of agricultural products is an important aspect of agricultural development. This fact had in the past received the attention of governments in Nigeria. The government established a marketing board in the year 1965, to cater for farmers market needs. The marketing board was established to ensure a consistent availability of market to farmers and also to protect their interest even during the time of surplus. Both the farmers and the end users of their products have ready markets to cater for their needs. The marketing board precisely served to protect farmers and users of their products especially cacao, that was the most popular cash crop at the time. The marketing board was however scrapped without any replacement. Following this episode, the emphasis was on increasing food production. The basic assumption was that increased food production would both improve the nutritional status of the population and pave the way for rural development and the desired food sufficiency. Various successive programmes were either directed at agricultural production or targeted at rural development. Likewise, increased adoption of improved crops and consequent productivity had traditionally been the goal of agricultural extension. In order to further enhance the production of food and agro-industrial raw materials for consumptions and exportations, State Ministries of Agriculture established Agricultural Input Supply Units (AISU). This had in the recent past metamorphosed into input supply companies. The mandate of AISU in a way was to play some form of marketing roles by making inputs available to farmers every time at subsidized rates.
The prevailing situation in rural Nigeria is that of reliance on free markets. This definitely impacts on the agricultural economy and the wellbeing of farmers that depend on the marketing situation and capacity. Narayanan (1991) felt that the globalization of markets and increased competition are certainly a force for change and will continue to be a challenge for extension throughout the coming decades. FAO (2004) opined that improvement of marketing systems for both farm produce and inputs in developing countries and the emerging economies necessitates a strong private sector backed by appropriate policy frameworks and effective government support services. Such services can include provision of market information and advice to farmers by well equipped agricultural extension institution. This is an indication that extension has an important role to play if the market needs of farmers are to be met (Adedoyin, 2004).
1.2 Statement of Problems
Investigation reveals the problems of the Analysis of Effectiveness of Extension Agents in Delivering of Extension Messages to Farmers in Gwagwalada Area Council research work:
- Inadequate analysis of the effectiveness of extension agents in delivering of Extension Messages to Farmers in Gwagwalada Area Council
- Lack of information relating to the marketing ervices provided to farmers’ by extension agents
- Improper delivery of Extension Messages to Farmers in Gwagwalada Area Council.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to analyze the Effectiveness of Extension Agents in Delivering of Extension Messages to Farmers in Gwagwalada Area Council. In achieving this aim, the following objectives were set out as follows:
- To investigate the effectiveness of extension agents in delivering of Extension Messages to Farmers in Gwagwalada Area Council
- To describe selected characteristics of agricultural extension agents;
- To identify the marketing related services provided to farmers’ by extension agents;
- To investigate the relationships between selected extension agents’ characteristics and their provision of marketing related services; and
- To analyze the policy and training implications of the findings.
1.4 Research Questions
The following are the question of the research work;
- Are the extension agents effective in terms of message delivery?
- How effective is extension agents in delivering of extension messages to farmers in Gwagwalada Area Council?
- What is the performance of the respective marketing related services by the extension agents?
- Does extension agent provides marketing related services to farmers?
1.5 Research Hypothesis
The following are the hypotheses set for this study are thus;
Hypothesis One
H0: There is no significant relationship between the perceived legitimacy of the selected marketing related services and the performance of the respective marketing related services by the extension agents.
H1: There is significant relationship between the perceived legitimacy of the selected marketing related services and the performance of the respective marketing related services by the extension agents.
Hypothesis Two
H0: There is no significant relationship between extension agents characteristics and the provision of marketing related services by extension agents.
H1: There is significant relationship between extension agents characteristics and the provision of marketing related services by extension agents.
1.5 Justification of Study
This research work will be of immense importance to the researchers, since it is a practical requirement for the award of Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Science Technology of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.
According to Abbott (1993), the marketing of agricultural products begins on the farm with the planning of production to meet specific demands and market prospects. It is completed with the sale of the fresh or processed product to consumers, or to manufacturers in the case of raw materials for industries. In his own submission, Nyako (2001) declared that Nigerian farmers could not find good markets, which would facilitate more income that would lead to the eradication of poverty and attainment of acceptable standard for living.
Besides, the study will serve as reference material for subsequent researcher in the field or related topics.
1.6 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the analysis of Effectiveness of Extension Agents in Delivering of Extension Messages to Farmers in Gwagwalada Area Council.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials.
