Effects of Extension Contact on Maize Production in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study examined the impact of extension contact on maize production in Katchia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 80 randomly sampled maize farmers from four villages in Kachia Local Government Area using a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as the frequency and percentages and inferential statistics such as ordinary least square (OLS). The study showed that majority (68.70%) fall between the age range of 31 and 50 years while 16.3% of the respondents are below 30 years of age. This implies that the area is dominated by mid-aged farmers who are still vibrant in terms of agricultural production. Majority (81.2%) of the respondents had one form of formal education or the other while 12.5% had no formal education and 6.3% had adult education. Only 25% of the respondents had access to extension personnel. Among the regression results obtained from the functional forms analyzed, cobb-douglas was used as the lead equation because of the level of its significant and R2 value. It had an R2 value of 0.945 implying that 94.5% of the variation in the maize output (Y) is explained by the independent variables (X1 – X6) in the regression model, while the remaining 5.5% is as a result of other factors not included in the model. The study showed that there was a significant relationship between extension and maize output. It was therefore recommended that Extension service unit should be strengthened by employing and training more staff to reach out to farmers as this will increase farm yield.