SMALL-SCALE MAIZE FARMERS’ ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined small-scale farmers’ access to agricultural extension services in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. The study used multistage sampling technique to select (375) respondents, 373 was finally used for the analysis. Primary data were collected with the use of well-structured questionnaire. The analytical techniques used were both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the analysis on the perception of the effectiveness of agricultural extension services showed the following mean score: improvement in maize farming activities (3.50), improvement in access to information on herbicides and pesticides (3.29), access to training on better ways of farming (3.13), access to timely information on new farming innovations (3.11), access to information on modern farm practices (3.11), access to information on fertilizer (2.90), formation of farm-based organization like cooperative societies (2.82) and access to modern farm equipment (2.72), were the most effective agricultural extension services received by the farmers. Also, the result of the Logit model showed that age of the respondents (z = -2.23), maize output (z = 2.37), farm size (z = -2.00), and membership of cooperative societies (z = 2.11) were the variables that statistically influenced access to agricultural extension services at 5% level of probability among small-scale maize farmers in the study area. The Wald chi-square was significant at 5% level of probability which means that, the Logit model has strong explanatory power. The major constraints militating against access to agricultural extension services showed the following mean score: inadequate access to farm inputs (3.65), inadequate motivation from government (3.51), transportation problem (3.44), late distribution of inputs from extension agents (3.03) and insufficient agricultural extension personnel (2.79). The study therefore recommended that the scope of Agricultural extension Service be expanded so as to accommodate a larger proportion of the farmers who appears to be in their peak age of production. In order to accomplish this, small-scale maize farmers are therefore encouraged to form themselves into cooperative societies and associations so as to access agricultural extension services and other farm resources. Furthermore, there is need to increase the number of agricultural extension personnel in order to accommodate more farmers.