Farmers Groups In Selected States Of Nigeria: A Need For Capacity Improvement

This study evaluated the characteristics ofFGs in Gombe, Kaduna andNiger states of Nigeria. Primary data for the study was collected through reconnaissance observation, group discussionsandstructuredinterviews with the FGmembers while secondary data were sourcedfrompublishedandunpublisheddocumentsrelatedto theproblem. total of 162 respondents drawn from 54 FGs were selected through a 5stage sampling procedure, from whom data on personal characteristics, FG membership, FG development,FGeconomic activitiesandconstraints were collected. The data collected was subjectedto frequency countsandpercentage analysis. The main conclusions and implications were that majority of FGs in the study area were established in the mid 1980s, aphenomenon which wasinspiredbygovernment'spolicyat the time. Apart from theirleadership structure, the rest of theirmode of operation is informal. Comparedwith their years of existence, their achieved growth and development was negligible and problematic. Their problems were low literacy, lack of funds, lack of technical and organizational skills and poor leadership. Their current condition has implications for agricultural extension services in the area. Extension organizations should ensure that extension workers acquire special trainingandskills to enable them dealeffectively with the extension issues of group formation, community organization and pluralistic extension approaches. In this regard, a keyrole ofextension is development technical and organizational capacities of the FGs to enable them organize themselves and take charge of theirown growth anddevelopment. EmpoweredFGs areplatforms for solving localproblems andmobilizingresources forsustainable development.