Strategies for Enhancing Linkage in the Agricultural Innovation Transfer Sub-system in South-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined professionals' perception on strategies for enhancing linkage in the agricultural innovation transfer sub- system in South Eastern Nigeria. Two hundred and ten (210) extension professionals from the public and private/ NGOs actors in the innovation transfer sub-system were used as sample. Data were collected by use of set of questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation coefficient. The findings showed that the respondents opted to forging effective linkages among actors in the sector. Overall use of liaison committee, free access to annual report, magazine, and bulletin, joint use of facilities were perceived appropriate. They accepted the adoption of allocating staff time to linkage activities, allocating operating fund to linkage, building linkage responsibilities into job descriptions and others. The major linkage constraining variables were inadequate sources of fund, poor government commitment to extension, low mobility of professionals, inappropriate government policy , poor training opportunities for professionals and others. The study recommends that regulatory mechanisms, policies and framework that could stimulate and enhance linkages among agencies in the sub-system should be put in place.