Analysis of the conventional and non-conventional means of getting agricultural extension information to rural small-scale dairy farmers in Niger State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study analyzes conventional and non-conventional means of getting agricultural extension information to rural small-scale dairy farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. A total of 90 respondents were sampled for the study. The study describes the socio-economic characteristics of the dairy farmers, their access to agriculture extension information and factors affecting their accessibility to agricultural extension education services. Data were collected through a well structure interview schedule/questionnaire from randomly selected dairy farmers. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The study revealed that majority of the respondents were still in active and productive age, with mean age of 29 years and had moderate household size of 6 (six) people. All the respondents (100%) claimed they had access to non-conventional extension agricultural extension education services and only 11.1% had access to conventional agricultural extension agricultural services. The following variables were the major determinants of dairy farmers’ access to agricultural extension education service. It is recommended that efforts should be made in providing enabling environment in rural areas for public/private agricultural extension education service provider to meet the needs of the rural dairy farmers to boost their productivity for escaping poverty and consequently improve their standard of living and well-being.