Assessment of Forestry Extension Service Delivery among Rural Farmers in Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed forestry extension service delivery among forest farm communities in Plateau State, Nigeria with the aim to identify the forestry extension services available to rural farmers; examine the level of farmers’ satisfaction with forestry extension service delivery and identify the perceived constraints to forestry extension service delivery in the study area. The population for this study consists of all the rural forest farm families in Plateau State. Due to the enormity of the population, a sample size of 214 respondents was selected. Multi stage sampling technique was used in the selection of sample for the study. Primary data were generated through the use of structured questionnaire and interview techniques. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics as well as likert scale. Results revealed the mean age of the farmers to be 39 years. Majority (61.0%) of the respondents were males with most (85.0%) of them married. Majority (53%) of the respondents had primary education with an average farm size of 2.5 hectares. mean household size 9 persons with majority of them (87.0%) deriving their income from agriculture. Agreater percentage (93.0%) of the respondents acquired their farmlands through inheritance. The mean annual income of the farmers was ₦ 82,742. Forestry extension services available to farmers in the study area include; information on forestry laws, awareness campaign against bush burning, distribution of horticultural seedlings, audio-visual shows, method/result demonstration, information on improved forest management practices, training on raising of seedlings, etc. Farmers expressed dissatisfaction with the level of forestry extension service delivery in the study area. The perceived constraints to forestry extension service delivery in Plateau State includes; lack of funding of extension services and inadequate number of extension agents. The study recommends increase in funding of the Agricultural Development Programmes to alleviate the problems of inadequate staff and insufficient training.