A model format for appraising the performance of front – line agricultural extension agents in agricultural development programmes in Nigeria

Author(s):  
C.I Ezeano
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-265
Author(s):  
Rasmira Rasmira ◽  
Ekawati Sri Wahyuni

In the information overload, agricultural extension agents as agents of agricultural development need to have information literacy skills because most of their main tasks and functions are related to the activities of collecting, processing and disseminating agricultural information. This study aims to 1) identify information literacy among extension workers in Cianjur Regency2) analyze the factors that are related to information literacy among extension workers in Cianjur Regency. The study sample was 80 extension workers in Cianjur Regency. The method of analysis uses descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using Spearman Rank correlation to analyze relationships between variables. The results showed that the information literacy level of agricultural extension workers was classified as middle especially in storing and retrieving information, using information effectively and ethically, and communicating knowledge. Extension agents have a high ability in terms of recognizing the information needed, finding and evaluating it. Two factors that are significantly related to information literacy are characteristics of extension agents (age, formal education level, working life) and accessibility of communication media (ease of access and variety of media uses).


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-149
Author(s):  
Md. Kamruzzaman ◽  
Ataharul Chowdhury ◽  
Annemarie van Paassen ◽  
Wayne Ganpat

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been considered as key driving forces for enabling agricultural development ‒ the sector which provides livelihoods for majority of the population in Bangladesh. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the largest public sector agricultural extension service provider in Bangladesh, has recently enacted a new organizational policy for its staffs to use ICTs such as social media to provide better services. However, there is little or merely anecdotal evidence about how extension agents of DAE have been accepting and using social media for their professional work. Drawing on the theoretical underpinnings of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study is a first attempt to investigate social media use and acceptance among extension agents in Bangladesh. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires from 140 extension agents of DAE who work in the eastern region of Bangladesh. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The findings indicate that most extension agents (51.4%) used social media for half an hour to one hour every day. Perceived ease of use (PEoU) and Perceived usefulness (PU) are the most influential elements that determine DAE staff acceptance of social media for performing professional functions. Social media was perceived by extension agents as a means for improving professional performance, such as disseminating agricultural information; garnering support for new agricultural policy; networking with clients and colleagues and enabling coordination of services provided by colleagues. Overall, the findings indicate potential uses of social media in an ICT-based agricultural development strategy in Bangladesh.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-14
Author(s):  
Mbemba Garenba

This article discusses the revitalization of agriculture through the knowledge of the extension agents to the community about the socioeconomic of agriculture. The interesting thing is that the potential of each region to develop agribusiness is very different. Therefore, to develop extension services that support the development of agribusiness, it is necessary to examine carefully the potential of each region. So that the diversity of extension materials must be made possible by innovation. Agricultural extension is expected to be the central point of agricultural development. However, in agricultural extension it must be remembered that extension is a form of intervention against farmers. Progressive and effective agricultural extension workers must be supported and collaborate closely with the Agricultural Research Institute including socio-economic research on agricultural extension which simultaneously conducts monitoring and evaluation of agricultural extension continuously. In disseminating information, the extension worker must carry out a reciprocal process, namely conveying information in the form of researchers' findings to farmers. Sustainable agricultural development really requires the support of strong agricultural technology and socio-economic research results. Without this, agricultural development will stagnate. Therefore, people's participation in planting knowledge needs to be increased.


Jurnal KIRANA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Salman Ali Rusdy ◽  
Aryo Fajar Sunartomo

Communication and development are two things that are very closely related. Agricultural extension activities are one of the facilitating factors for agricultural development. Agricultural extension activities are a communication process where field agricultural extension agents become information sources and farmers as recipients of information. The research objective is to identify the communication process in delivering information about agricultural extension. The study was conducted using qualitative methods. Research location in Rowotengah Village, Sumberbaru District, Jember Regency, East Java. Determination of informants was determined by purposive sampling. Data collection methods used are observation, interviews and documentation. Data analysis used the Miles and Huberman model, namely data reduction, data presentation and conclusion drawing. Test the validity of the data using source triangulation. The results showed that communicators in agricultural counseling were field agricultural extension workers, farmers and pesticide formulator officers. The message conveyed in agricultural extension is the SRI planting system method which includes field schools, organic fertilization, and the manufacture of MOL. The communication channels used are interpersonal channels including face to face, cellphone, and group meetings. The targets of agricultural counseling are group leaders and members of farmer groups. The effect of communication received from the delivery of information on agricultural extension includes cognitive effects, affective effects and conative effects. Keywords : agricultural extension, SRI Program, communication process


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 226-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Ukaro Ofuoku ◽  
Oluwaseun Ijeoma Ekorhi-Robinson

Abstract This study considered the level of inclusion of landless farmers in extension services in Delta State, Nigeria. A sample size of 355 landless farmers who were randomly selected formed the respondents used for this study. The results show that they had a mean age of 45 years and were mostly females who were also mostly married with little level of formal education as their highest level of formal education was secondary education. They had a mean household size of 7 persons and average farming experience of 11.5 years with mean farm size of 2 ha and very many of them did not subscribe to farmer’s groups. They were mostly (70.70%) indigenes of the communities where they resided. Their level of social inclusion in agricultural extension benefits was poor (inclusion index = 0.45). They had an average crop output of 9000kg annually. Their level of social inclusion in agricultural extension services influenced their level of outputs. Their level of social inclusion was significantly influenced by their socioeconomic attributes of age, gender, marital status, and level of formal education, household size, farming experiences, group membership and indigene status. It was concluded that the landless farmers were socially excluded from agricultural extension services. It is recommended that extension agents should change their attitudes towards this class of farmers; and extension agents should persuasively convince the farmers to subscribe to membership of their relevant farmers’ groups


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Jhon Makosembu

This article discusses the revitalization of agriculture through the knowledge of the extension agents to the community about the socioeconomic of agriculture. The interesting thing is that the potential of each region to develop agribusiness is very different. Therefore, to develop extension services that support the development of agribusiness, it is necessary to examine carefully the potential of each region. So that the diversity of extension materials must be made possible by innovation. Agricultural extension is expected to be the central point of agricultural development. However, in agricultural extension it must be remembered that extension is a form of intervention against farmers. Progressive and effective agricultural extension workers must be supported and collaborate closely with the Agricultural Research Institute including socio-economic research on agricultural extension which simultaneously conducts monitoring and evaluation of agricultural extension continuously. In disseminating information, the extension worker must carry out a reciprocal process, namely conveying information in the form of researchers' findings to farmers. Sustainable agricultural development really requires the support of strong agricultural technology and socio-economic research results. Without this, agricultural development will stagnate. Therefore, people's participation in planting knowledge needs to be increased.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Wisam Yako Aziz Masso ◽  
Norsida Man

<p>To provide good leadership it is necessary for individuals and groups to help bring a rural community to action. As the rural leaders play a function in important programs in agricultural extension. However, The study was conducted to determine the maturity of rural leaders based on maturity model theory towards agricultural technologies In Malaysia Paddy Farming, and explore the relationship between the selected characteristics of the respondents. Data were collected through personal interview from 260 randomly selected in muda agriculture development authority MADA area. A five point Likert scale was used to determine the maturity of rural leaders ranged from 1 = never to 5= always.The majority (63.1%) of the respondents had a moderate level of maturity. The correlation analysis between socio-demographic characteristics and maturity level show that there is a positive and significant relationship between variables age and years of experience in paddy farming, at 0.05 level of significance.</p>


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