RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BEHAVIOR OF THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORKERS AND FARMERS’ SATISFACTION WITH THE EXTENSION SERVICES IN KURA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the attitude of extension staff towards agricultural extension work, examine the nature of the relationship between farmers and agricultural extension staff, examine the scope of farmers’ satisfaction with services provided by extension workers, and determine the challenges affecting effective relationship between farmers and agricultural extension staff in Kura Local Government, Kano State, Nigeria. The population of the study was 2567 registered farmers and 8 qualified Extension workers. Questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection. 80 respondents were used as the sampling frame. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics i.e. percentage and frequency count. The research findings revealed that there is strong positive relationship between behavior of Agricultural Extension Workers and farmers satisfaction, the findings of the study indicated, among others, that the challenges affecting relationship between the farmers and the Extension Staff in the study area included staff inadequacy, slow process and the attitude of the Extension Workers toward Agricultural Extension exercise included dedication to duty, positive manners, among the others. Additionally, the findings indicated that the nature of the relationship between the farmers and Agricultural Extension Workers was based on Extension workers farm visit, response to request and enquiries by the farmers and friendliness to the farmers. It is therefore, recommended that the number of Extension workers should be added and welfare package of the Extension Workers should be improved to avoid delay in the process, to mention but a few.