Rumble, Joy N. (author), Lamm, Alexa J. (author), Gay, Keegan D. (author), and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Center for Public
Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources
Format:
Online journal article
Publication Date:
[date of publication not identified]
Published:
USA: The American Association for Agricultural Education
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 151 Document Number: D10119
16 pages., via online journal, The Cooperative Extension Service has performed the role of educator and change agent for more than a century. Changes occurring during this period caused Extension to extend its influence beyond the farm and traditional roles. Today, Extension faces controversial public issues and unparalleled levels of policy and regulation impacting agriculture and natural resources. As the needs of our changing society evolve, regulation increases, and response to public opinion becomes more complex. Extension must expand its role in providing education related to public issues and acting as facilitators and change agents to ensure viable actions are taken. This study was conducted to determine the level of preparedness of Florida Extension agents in dealing with policies and regulations. An emailed survey of all Florida Extension agents utilized questions regarding frequency of addressing policies with their clientele and their knowledge of said policies. Results indicated a low frequency of agents of all types addressing most policies with their clientele and a need for increased knowledge about the policies. In particular, there is an opportunity for all agent types to improve interactions with clientele on the topic of Immigration Reform as well as knowledge of related policies.
9 pages., via online journal., This study assessed the effectiveness of extension communication methods used in disseminating information to farmers in Ogbomoso Agricultural zone of Oyo State. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, standard deviation, mean, median and mode statistics. The findings show that the extension communication methods used for farmers were farm visit (89.2%) and home visit (78.5%), contact farmers (73.3%) and method demonstration (51.7%). Contact farmers, farm visits and home visit were the most frequently used communication strategies by extension agencies while farm visit (x=1.57) was the most preferred extension method to receive information and technologies and respondents perceived the extension communication methods used to be moderately effective. The study recommends that extension officers should consider the use of communication methods preferred by the farmers to communicate information to them.
12 pages., The rapidly expanding end-use markets for cassava implies a surge in the production and processing of cassava roots into various value-added forms. This study investigated the information needs of cassava farmers on cassava value addition technologies in Oyo State, Nigeria, to ascertain areas of information gap for farmers to maximally exploit the opportunities inherent in the product value addition. Using a multistage sampling procedure, 130 registered cassava farmers were sampled and interviewed. Data were collected on respondents’ personal and enterprise characteristics, access to information, perceived benefits and constraints to accessing information and information needs on cassava value addition. Data were analysed using percentages, means and correlational analysis at p=0.05. Results indicate that respondents were married (91.5%), with mean farm size and farming experience of 2.3 ha and 20.1±13.8 years, respectively, while fellow farmers ranked first as major source of information. Though respondents were constrained with low income (70.0%), they reckoned that if they had access to information on value addition, their postharvest loss will be reduced (89.2%). Respondents had information gap on information needs on cassava adhesives (1st), glucose syrups (2nd) and confectionaries (3rd). Farming experience (r = -.236), constraints (r = -.288) and access to sources of information were significantly related to respondents’ information needs. It is recommended that information on improved cassava value addition technologies be made available to cassava farmers through relevant sources, especially during emergencies coupled with hands –on training for effective application of information acquired.
Keywords: Information needs, Information sources, Access to information, Cassava value addition technologies.
Conference paper / journal article, The paper focused on COVID-19 pandemic, its implication on the Nigeria agriculture and the role of extension. The review uncovered a subtle but undeniable negative impact on all the value chain of the Nigeria agriculture. One of the most important factors that may avert this negative impact is agricultural extension service. With lockdown, travel ban and social distancing, the way out becomes technology. Government and institutions at all levels should intentionally deploy technology tools to aid effective agricultural extension service to farmers.
