Assessment of Influence of Extension Teaching Methods on the Level of Adoption of Agricultural Innovation in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria
Umeh O.J.1,Aghale D.N.2,Anyim A.3
Citation :Umeh O.J.,Aghale D.N.,Anyim A, Assessment of Influence of Extension Teaching Methods on the Level of Adoption of Agricultural Innovation in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria International Journal of Advanced Research in Botany. 2018, 4(1) : 1-6
Assessment of influence of extension teaching methods on the level of adoption of agricultural innovation was conducted in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria in 2017. Specifically, the study identified extension teaching methods used by extension agents in the study area in disseminating improved practices to farmers; determined extent of adoption of the recommended practicesby farmers in relation to cassava /maize/ telferia inter-crop production and ascertained factors militating against adoption of extension recommendations in the area. Multistage sampling techniques were used in selecting 180 respondents for the study. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis while Probit regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis. The results shows thatgroup methods (demonstration, field shows, etc) were the major (53%) extension teaching method used by extension agents in the area, however only,only use of improved variety of cassava (X= 3.4), processing and value addition (X= 3.1) and fertilizer application (X= 2.9)out of the eleven recommended practices presented to the respondents for the production of cassava /maize/ telferia inter-crop were adopted.Probit regression estimates showed that the coefficient for mass method (5.279***) was positive and highly significant at 1% level of probability with rate of adoption by the farmers, implying that increase in the use of mass method will lead to increase in adoption of agricultural innovations in the study area. It was therefore recommended that extension personnel must acquire the requisite knowledge and skills necessary for using modern ICTs in the discharge of their job functions.