ROLES OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORKERS IN DISSEMINATING AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES TO VEGETABLE FARMERS UNDER JIBIA IRRIGATION PROJECT, KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was carried out to analyze the roles of agricultural extension workers in disseminating agricultural technologies to farmers’ under Jibia irrigation project, Katsina State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to arrive at the sample size of one hundred (100) vegetable farmers. Data obtained through the administration of structured questionnaire were analyzed using both descriptive (frequency counts and percentage, mean and Standard deviation) inferential (Chi-square) statistics. The findings revealed that a majority of the vegetable farmers were male (99%), married (72%) and in active productive years. The major source of agricultural information of the farmers was from the extension workers and mass media, and a majority (100%) of the farmers adopted the agricultural technologies disseminated. They were educated on adoption of the technologies through the individual extension teaching methods and were convenient with the information disseminated. The Chi-square analysis result revealed a significant relationship (P < 0.05) between adoption of seed varieties by the farmers and individual extension teaching methods.