scholarly journals Knowledge of Extension Agents regarding Professionalization of Extension Services: Evidence from South West Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 33-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwasogo David Olorunfemi ◽  
Oladimeji Idowu Oladele
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The Public ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
South West

The study examined the knowledge of agriculture extension agents on professionalization in South West Nigeria. This was borne out of the need to improve and ensure a viable, effective and vibrant extension and advisory service delivery in the area. 301 public and 55 private extension agents were selected through a two-staged sampling procedure. A questionnaire was used to obtain data on their socio-economic characteristics, knowledge on professionalization and its components, these being analyzed using descriptive, t-test and tobit regression analyses. The results showed that the agricultural agents in the public and private extension organizations had a basic knowledge on the concept of professionalization and its components of accreditation, registration and certification. However, disparities in the level of knowledge between the public and private extension personnel were observed. The findings indicated that their educational level and background were significant influencing factors of knowledge on professionalization. The study has implications for educating and training agricultural extension agents on professionalization. Seminars and workshops should be held specifically for the public extension agencies, to upgrade their knowledge and capacity on the concept, intricacies and potential benefits of professionalization on service delivery. This will help assist the institutionalization of professionalization in the agricultural extension sector and enhance competent, accountable and effective extension and advisory services delivery.

scholarly journals Perceived Effects of Professionalization of Extension Services by Public and Private Agents in South West Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-72
Author(s):  
Oluwasogo David Olorunfemi ◽  
Oladimeji Idowu Oladele ◽  
Temitope Oluwaseun Olorunfemi
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Years Of Experience ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The Public ◽  
South West ◽  
Perceived Effects ◽  
Extension Agencies

This study analysed the perceived effects of professionalization of extension services by extension agents in South West Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from three hundred and one (301) public agents and fifty-five (55) private agents that were selected through a stratified random sampling procedure. The public and private agents had basic knowledge about the concept of professionalization and exhibited a favourable attitude towards professionalizing extension services. There were significant differences in the years of experience (t = 5.35, P ≤ 0.01), farmers group covered (t = -14.09, P ≤ 0.01) and distance to clients travelled (t = - 7.65, P ≤ 0.01) by the public and private agents. Extension agents in both organizations had a positive perception of the effects of professionalization of extension services in enhancing and improving delivery. Extension agents’ knowledge (t = 5.303), attitude (t = 12.733), years of experience (t = 2.758), educational qualification (t = 2.037) and rural-urban background (t = 2.061) were significant determinants of their perceived effects of professionalization on service delivery. Extension agencies should support continuous professional development of extension agents through trainings and acquisition of relevant higher degrees that will help to enhance their knowledge thus upgrading their professionalization-readiness status. Keywords: Extension agents, extension service, perceived effects, professionalization.

Determinants of professionalisation of extension service delivery: A confirmatory factor analysis approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-135
Author(s):  
Olorunfemi ◽  
Oladele
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analysis ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Confirmatory Factor

The need for agricultural extension services in Nigeria to attain a higher ethical and professional status of registering and certifying its service providers like other disciplines for effective service delivery has led this study to examine the factors influencing extension professionalisation in Nigeria. 356 extension agents from both public and private extension organisations were selected through a two-stage sampling procedure. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on the knowledge, attitude and perceptions on the effects of the components of professionalisation (i.e. accreditation, registration, and certification) on service delivery. The Cronbach alpha reliability values for the constructs used in the different sections of the instrument were knowledge (0.78), attitude (0.94), accreditation (0.92), registration (0.89) and certification (0.96). Data was analysed using IBM AMOS version 24 to conduct a confirmatory factor analysis to determine the interrelationships that exist between the extension agent’s knowledge, attitude, and the components of professionalisation. The findings revealed a significant and strong positive correlation between the constructs of the extension agent’s knowledge, attitude and the professionalisation components of accreditation, registration, and certification. These findings have implications for educating and training extension agents on professionalisation and its components to ensure its institutionalisation in the agricultural extension sector for the provision of a more ethical, competent, accountable, and efficient rural and advisory service delivery.

scholarly journals Assessment of Extension Services Delivery to Fish Farmers in South Western Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 2596-2607
Author(s):  
Apata O. M. O. M. ◽  
Toluwase S. O. W ◽  
Awoyemi A. O.
Keyword(s):  
Formal Education ◽  
Information Access ◽  
Fish Farming ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Crucial Information ◽  
Chi Square Analysis

Inability of fish farmers in Nigeria to produce at a rate that can meet the population demand has been linked to lack of access to crucial information on improved fish farming technique. Information is an indispensable factor in fish farming and it is the basis of extension service delivery. This study was designed to describe demographic characteristic of fish farmers, identify sources of various information to fish farmers and identify information access constraints faced by farmers. Purposive sampling procedure was used to select 2 States and a total of 160 respondents were selected for the study. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation and Chi-Square (X2) was used for inferential statistics. Result revealed that mean age was 44.8 years, 77.5% were male, only 7.5% have no formal education and 98.1% were full time fish farmers. About 25.0% received information frequently, 50.6% rarely while 24.4% never received information from extension agents. Inadequate of extension contact was identified by 88.8% of the respondents as information access constraint. Chi-Square analysis showed significant relationship (X2 = 13.426, p = 0.016) between source of information and utilization of information.

TECHNICAL ADVISORY SERVICES IN GHANA

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mavis DAYIE ◽  
Esther Nuonibe BEMILE
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Advisory Services ◽  
Advisory Service ◽  
Source Of Information

Public extension systems worldwide have been accused of being deficient in management and inefficient in technical advisory service delivery. This is even more in developing countries where fiscal budgetary and human resource allocations are low. This study assessed the current status of technical advisory services delivered to farmers by public sector agricultural extension agents. Survey data revealed that 95% of those with contacts with extension agents rated public extension as the most important source of information. Results revealed that farmers are mostly dissatisfied with some technical advisory packages which points to the need for improvement in these services by the Agricultural Ministry.

Appreciating the Diversity of NGO’s Towards Service Delivery in South Africa: Drawing Evidences from Eastern Cape Province

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Mutemi Kajiita ◽  
Simon Kang’ethe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
The Public ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Medical Facilities ◽  
The Government

The dismantling of Apartheid era in South Africa in 1994, the advent of democratic era, was welcomed with a package of hope for the citizens as far as development was concerned. Since then, the government has been playing a key role in service delivery. Nonetheless, gaps exist in dispensing an array of services and this has prompted the interventions of NGOs in such developmental discourses. Through a mixed method research approach, this article explores the milestones of NGOs in South Africa while drawing pieces of evidence from Eastern Cape Province. The findings indicate that NGOs have responded positively to the prevention and treatment of various diseases, offered training and facilitated medical facilities in the province, promoted early childhood education and finally ensured regularity in services delivery. The article recommends that the public should appreciate and show goodwill to the efforts of the NGOs, pull their resources together to support and sustain the already existing NGO projects.

The Governance of Integrated Service Delivery in Canada

2010 ◽  
pp. 165-177
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Roy
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Online Delivery ◽  
The Public ◽  
Integrated Service Delivery ◽  
New Business ◽  
Public And Private Sector ◽  
Service Strategies ◽  
Channel Environment ◽  
Integrated Service

The emergence of the Internet has given rise to internal connectivity and external, online delivery as centrepieces of both the public and private sector service strategies alike. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a critical assessment of both the Canadian federal government’s experience to date and the prospects of success for Service Canada – the new lead entity for citizen-centred service delivery in a multi-channel environment. Our primary interest lies in better understanding the organizational (managerially and politically) dimensions to this transformation and the extent to which these dimensions are well aligned in a suitable governance framework that encompasses shifting patterns of service delivery at both the federal level, and for the Canadian public sector as a whole. The Service Canada experience to date illustrates the governance complexities surrounding the introduction and pursuit of e-services and more integrated service delivery. More than a technological challenge, the realization of a new business model is the primary challenge in succeeding.

scholarly journals Knowledge of extension agents on climate smart agricultural initiatives in South-West Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwasogo David Olorunfemi ◽  
Temitope Oluwaseun Olorunfemi ◽  
Oladimeji Idowu Oladele ◽  
James Olorunfemi Malomo
Keyword(s):  
Scale Up ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Knowledge Level ◽  
South West ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Climate Change Risks ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Frequency Counts ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

This study examined the knowledge level of extension agents on six classes of climate smart adaptation initiatives (CSAI). A multi-stage sampling procedure was utilized to collect data from 277 agents in South-West Nigeria with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Data were descriptively analysed using frequency counts, percentages and means. The result showed that extension agents were knowledgeable on crop-mix (56.3%) and tillage-smart (53.4%) related initiatives with more than half of them scoring above the mean benchmark. However, they had a low knowledge level on the majority of the water management (59.2%), fossil-burning (94.2%), soil (75.8%), ICT and other adaptive initiatives (98.9%) as the majority of them scored below the mean benchmark for each of these categories. Seminars and workshops should be provided by extension organizations for these agents to upgrade their knowledge on these initiatives, thus positioning them to effectively be able to render needed advisories to farmers. This will equip farmers to be adept in responding adequately to managing climate change risks and also scale-up their use of CSAI.

scholarly journals Strategies for Improving Agricultural Extension Service Delivery in Afikpo North Local Government Area, Ebonyi State

2020 ◽  
pp. 10-21
Author(s):  
J. U. Ndem ◽  
B. N. Okafor ◽  
M. A. Ochijenu ◽  
F. Azuuku ◽  
L. I. Eni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Extension Education ◽  
Extension Service ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Education Services ◽  
Agricultural Extension Service ◽  
Training Programmes

This study determined the strategies for improving agricultural extension service delivery in Afikpo North Local Government Area, Ebonyi State Nigeria using three purposes of study. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study was 81 contact farmers and extension agents. Data were collected with questionnaire which was validated by five specialists and analysis using mean statistics and standard deviation. It was discovered that training programmes, provision of essential amenities in the rural areas and incentives to the extension agents improve agricultural extension service delivery. All the hypotheses were accepted at (p < 0.05) level of significance. The researchers recommended that the Government of Ebonyi State should always organize training programmes, provision of essential amenities in the rural areas and incentives to the extension agents. Low productivity of agricultural commodities by rural farmers is as a result of inadequate extension education services which need proactive to ensure adequate extension education services. 

scholarly journals Public Private Partnerships and Collaboration in the Health Sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal Almalki ◽  
Mohammed Al-Hanawi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Healthcare Service ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Financial Flows ◽  
The Public

A public-private partnership (PPP) is defined as a collaboration between the public and private sectors in the financing, delivery and development of public goods and services. This phenomenon has been adopted globally by many as a new economic paradigm. This study identifies challenges and other hindrances in promoting PPPs, identifies the concrete contribution of PPP initiatives in improving healthcare service delivery and determines the level of participation of the private sector in healthcare delivery systems under PPP initiatives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 participants, including 4 government hospital directors, 5 private hospital directors and 4 health personnel. Participants were interviewed face to face, and the interviews were audio-recorded. The participants were purposefully selected based on their knowledge and familiarity with the implementation of PPP schemes. The evidence showed that the most important benefits of adopting a PPP are the quality of service, the speed at which low-cost healthcare service delivery is made accessible and the diversification of risks between the two sectors so that neither the private sector nor the public sector bears the entire risk alone. The results also revealed that PPPs will lead to increased efficiency and accuracy with respect to the design and implementation of infrastructural projects as well as the financing, execution, maintenance and development of the healthcare sector—the implementation of which makes high-quality services available to end users. Risk sharing is of great importance for the healthcare sector in that it helps hospitals to avoid closure and failure, distributes financial flows in an ideal way, and reduces the pressure on hospitals to work in a safe investment environment. This aim can be achieved through increasing the partnerships between public and private sectors.

scholarly journals IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE DELIVERY ON CASSAVA PRODUCTION IN KWAMI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF GOMBE STATE

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Maghra HARRISON ◽  
Ayodele OGUNTUNDE
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Local Government Area ◽  
Extension Service ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Agricultural Extension Service ◽  
Cassava Production ◽  
The Impact

The study was carried out to determine the impact of agricultural extension service delivery on cassava production in Kwami local government area of Gombe State. Four research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The design for the study was survey. The sample for the study was 105 respondents with 93 cassava farmers and 12 agricultural extension agents. A simple random sampling technique was used to obtain the sample. The instrument for data collection was a researcher designed structured questionnaire rated on a four- point scale. The instrument was subjected to validation by 3 experts. To determine the reliability of the instrument, Pearson Product moment correlation coefficient was used after administering the instrument on a different population of farmers in Adamawa State. The coefficient obtained was 0.99. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research question while t-test was used at 0.05 level of significance to test the hypothesis. The findings of the study revealed that factors such as poor soil fertility among others influence cassava production in Kwami local government area of Gombe State and cassava farmers derive benefit from agricultural extension agents. The study recommended that more agricultural extension agents should be employed by the government so as to have sufficient agricultural extension service among others.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document