Effects of Agricultural Extension Services on Farming Household Welfare in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Agricultural extension agents are vital to farmers due to their dissemination of researchers findings to the Farmers. Therefore, this study, focused on effects of agricultural extension services on farming household welfare in Surulere Local Government Area. A multistage sampling technique was employed for the study. The first stage involved the purposive selection of Surulere Local Government Area. Specifically, the study examined the socio-economic characteristics of the rural households heads, access of farmers to extension services and the welfare status of household. in the study area. The second stage involved purposive selection of two blocks from the LGA rural areas. The third stage involved random selection of two villages from each of the selected blocks: and a total of 100 household heads were sampled.  Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Two sampled t-test. The mean age of the respondents was 44.15 years. 34% of the respondents had extension service on information on agro-marketing. Also, 38% of the respondents had linkage with sources of credit. 90% of the respondents had information on improved agricultural technologies and linkage with agricultural insurance. Moreover, 94% of the respondents had linkage with sources of input.2% of the respondents had above N250,000 per capital expenditure. It is concluded that most of the respondents had linkage with sources of input. However, they encounter poor dissemination of information on agro-marketing. The respondents had poor welfare. Therefore, the agricultural extension services of Agricultural Development Program (ADP) should be re-engineered towards better service delivery. Extension agents should disseminate information on agro-marketing adequately. Welfare of the farmers should be improved.