1.1 Introduction
Potato has an important role to play in preventing malnutrition, especially in impoverished areas of the world. Although potato has a relatively low energy density, it has negligible fat, contains quality protein, fiber, and vitamins, minerals, especially potassium, and important phytochemicals, many of which have antioxidant properties. Potato is important to global nutrition and health. Dissemination of agricultural product help in increasing the visibility of research outputs, public engagement in science and innovation, and confidence of society in research. Effective dissemination and communication are vital to ensure that the conducted research has a social, political, or economical impact. They draw attention of governments and stakeholders to research results and conclusions, enhancing their visibility, comprehension, and implementation.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is well-known vegetable grown all over the world. It is regarded as valuable supply of nutrients because it provides nearly all necessary nutrients needed for human body ranging from macronutrients that are considered as high level of energy to micronutrients like minerals and vitamins (Vreugdenhil let al, 2007). It can also be considered as food and cash crop in world due to its inborn quality of tonnage production, very high nutritional value and providing handsome profit. Potato is also used as staple food in some countries, due to its remarkable nutritional value and low price. Potato is considered as 5th largely produced cultivated food commodity just after sugarcane, maize, rice and wheat in all over the world (FAO, 2012).
Extension services are very necessary for cultivation of crops. Farmers require agronomic and plant protection related extension services for production of crops in cotton and rice zones of Punjab. These extension services are very necessary for successful farming and for receiving high production on large scale (Ali et al., 2011). The responsibility of the agricultural extension service is to give knowledge about new technologies, advices to farmers on various aspects of crop production (Afzal, 2009).
Impact of extension services is so prominent on farm performance. Public and private agricultural extension services enhance the technical efficiency of farms which increase the production and those farmers who do not employ public and private agricultural extension services, got less efficient farms with low agri-production (Dinar et al., 2007). Provision of extension services to farmers through one or two visits of extension agents increases the crop production significantly. The farmers, who attend extension agents for acquiring useful extension services, could increase the overall agri-production of farms (Owens et al., 2003).
Extension services are carried out by different public and private sources. These services directly lead to increase in farm production. Private sectors like pesticide, fertilizer and seed companies; local as well as multi-national, are also responsible in agriculture extension. As a consequence, the sales persons of these companies promote their own product as well as give other useful information to farmers regarding crop technology. Hence, they are the big source of extension services and contribute a lot in the extension system (Shafique, 2008).
Opera (2008) established that 88.10% of the farmers considered the extension agents as their source of information, followed by the fellow farmers, radio, and television as specified by 71.20%, 63.20%, and 43.30% of the farmers and respectively.
Many of the farmers (70%) preferred the extension agents over other sources; radio, relatives and friends, and television. Some studies show the relationships resulted by chi-square test. A chi-square test was utilized to develop the non-significant relationship between age of farmers and awareness of factors affecting the effectiveness of print media. In this same study highly significant positive relationship between education level of respondents and awareness of factors affecting the effectiveness of print media was reported (Rehman et al., 2011).
In another study, chi-square test was used to define the relationship between age, literacy level, tenancy status, size of land holding of farmers and knowledge, skill, attitude and adoption level of suggested techniques relating to mango production technology, mango protection methods and marketing practices (Saleem et al., 2010).
As Okara is the main area with respect to potato production in the country and potato is the 6thlargelyproduced cultivated commodity of the country with respect to quantity. So the importance of Agri-extension work cannot be ignored for potato production. There is the need to execute a study which provides the information regarding relationship of agri-extension services with potato production. In past, there is a no record which provides the direct impact of extension services by different sources on potato production. By conducting this study, the impact of extension services from multiple sources would be judged on potato yield. The study would also provide the knowledge that which extension source has significant relationship on potato yield and which one has non-significant. Hence, the main objective of the study is to assess the per acre average yield of potato through extension services from different sources.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Role of Agricultural Extension Worker in Disseminating Information to Potatoes Producers.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that potato is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the bindweed or morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. Its large, starchy, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots are a root vegetable (Alkasrawi et al., 2003). The young leaves and shoots are sometimes eaten as greens. The sweet potato is commonly thought to be a type of potato but does not belong to the nightshade family, Solanaceae, but both families belong to the same taxonomic order, the Solanales.
The plant is a herbaceous perennial vine, bearing alternate heart-shaped or palmately lobed leaves and medium-sized sympetalous flowers. The edible tuberous root is long and tapered, with a smooth skin whose color ranges between yellow, orange, red, brown, purple, and beige. Its flesh ranges from beige through white, red, pink, violet, yellow, orange, and purple. Sweet potato cultivars with white or pale yellow flesh are less sweet and moist than those with red, pink or orange flesh (Alkasrawi et al., 2003).
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Role of Agricultural Extension Worker in Disseminating Information to Potatoes Producers. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To investigate the factors affecting the dissemination of potatoes information among agricultural extension worker;
- To examine the contribution of agricultural extension worker in potato product information dissemination;
- To assess the per acre average yield of potato through extension services from different sources; and
- To suggest possible solution towards eradicating the problems inhibiting the dissemination of potato products information among agricultural extension workers.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are there factors affecting the dissemination of potatoes information among agricultural extension worker?
- What is the contribution of agricultural extension worker in potato product information dissemination?
- What are the per acre average yield of potato through extension services from different sources?
- What are possible solutions towards eradicating the problems inhibiting the dissemination of potato products information among agricultural extension workers?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There are no significant factors affecting the dissemination of potatoes information among agricultural extension worker
- H1: There are significant factors affecting the dissemination of potatoes information among agricultural extension worker
1.7 Significance of Study
The study would provide the knowledge that which extension source has significant relationship on potato yield and which one has non-significant. This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Role of Agricultural Extension Worker in Disseminating Information to Potatoes Producers in Nigeria.
1.9 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.
- 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, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Potato: It is well-known vegetable grown all over the world. It is regarded as valuable supply of nutrients because it provides nearly all necessary nutrients needed for human body ranging from macronutrients that are considered as high level of energy to micronutrients like minerals and vitamins (Vreugdenhil let al, 2007).
