Farmers' Assessment of the Training and Visit Extension System in Central Nigeria: Evidence from Barkin Ladi, Plateau State

The Training and Visit (T&V) extension has been criticized for being top-down, top-heavy, inefficient and ineffective. The purpose of this study therefore was to assess the effectiveness of the T & V extension in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Council (LGC), Plateau State in Central Nigeria. Four specific objectives guided the study. A total of 60,000 farmers who had been in active production between 1986 and 1995 in the LGC constituted the population for the study. A three percent sample (1,800) was randomly selected for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data pertinent to the study. Data were descriptively analysed. Demographically, majority of the respondents were males, aged 25-26 years, and married. Slightly less than 50 percent (43.5%) were literate. Majority had farmed for at least 11 years (53%) and had land holdings almost exclusively by inheritance (96%). Other results of the study indicated that although majority of the respondents had contact with extension agents, most depended on other sources for agricultural information. Respondents reported that the frequency of extension visits were unsatisfactory, but found the information given by extension agents very useful. Majority of the respondents were aware of recommended agricultural technologies. The adoption of fertilizer and improved crop varieties was higher than capital-intensive innovations such as mechanized land preparation and use of fishing gear. Recommendations were made on the basis of major results of the study.