A review of agricultural extension in Nigeria: the need for an alternative model

Abstract

The Nigerian agricultural extension service, which has its root in, the promotion of export crops by the colonial masters has gone through several approaches. These include the special commodity services, farm settlement scheme, River Basin Development Authorities, the National Accelerated Food Production Programme and the Operation Feed the Nation. All these were unable to adequately promote improved technology adoption by farms and in 1986 the Training & Visit (T & V) extension system was introduced. This also has not been as successful as expected. The paper reviewed the past extension approaches used in technology transfer to farmers in Nigeria. It attempted to present the problems experienced with the T & V system. It then proposed an alternative participatory approach, which should be farmer-centered, emphasize farmer participation, cost sharing and the strengthening of community based institutions to support improvement in the standard of living of the farmers. UNISWA Jnl of Agric Vol 10 2001: pp62-70