Participation of Extension Agents in Research-Extension-Farmer-Input Linkages System (REFILS) Activities in Abia State.

Abstract

This study investigated the status of participation of the frontline field Extension staff of Abia State AgriculturalDevelopment Programme (ABIADEP) in the activities of Research-Extension-Farmer-Input Linkage System (REFILS)of the organization. Forty respondents were successively sampledfrom lists of extension agents (EAs) in each of thethree agricultural zones of the State - Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia. Thus, a toted of120 respondents were sampledfor thestudy. Structured questionnaires were used to elicit datafrom the respondents while simple descriptive statistics wereused to analyze the data collected. Results emergingfrom analyzed data indicated that EAs’ participation was high inthree REFILS activities viz - training offarmers '{2.41), attendance tofortnightly training (2.30) and conduct ofonfarmadaptive research (2.06). However, their participation was low in activities such as target and research (2.06).However, their participation was low in such activities as target and research area selection (0.28), onfarm appliedresearch (0.02), annual zonal workshop (0.00), monthly technology review meeting (0.00), stabilization offarmers’adoption (0.55). There was generally low level participation of EAs in REFILS activities. This was largely attributedto constraints such as logistic/mobility problems (1st), paucity of resources (2nd), poor status of service (3rd), weakcommunication linkages (4th), among others. It was thus recommended that the ABIADEP management shouldrestructure the mode of operation of REFILS to accommodate more participation of EAs in many other activities.Again EAs should endeavor to improve their skill and technical competence to be able to cope with the challengingtasks in some of the activities. Also communication linkage between Headquarter staffand extension agents should beenhancedfor easy andprompt contacts.