Extension Staff Research Articles

Rural Extension Professionals’ Knowledge, Preparedness and Perceived Barriers to Control/Reduce the Spread of Covid -19 Pandemic in Imo State, Nigeria

The Covid - 19 pandemic has affected everything and everybody globally. Awareness and good attitude are key to adherence to preventive measures. This study seeks to ascertain extension officers’ awareness of covid 19 pandemic, examine preparedness level and describe the challenges they face in trying to contain covid 19 pandemic spread. A total of 120 extension staff of Imo ADP was selected purposively for this study. Questionnaire was used to collect data and analysis done using percentages and mean. The results of the analysis showed that the respondents (100%) were fully aware of the Covid -19 pandemic outbreak. They are aware of the symptoms, transmission, incubation period, and protective measures (71.7%). They are really prepared to help as they have read several books and materials on Covid 19(77.5%) learnt to wear face mask (85%), regularly wash hands among other things. However, they face challenges such as inadequate trainings (M=3.01), low level of exposure (M=3.21), cultural beliefs of farmers (M=3.61), lack of affordable hand sanitizer(M=3.10),discomfort wearing mask(M=3,31), low level of education of farmers among other barriers. We recommend that both extension workers and farmers receive regular training and education, funds be made available to purchase necessary items needed for smooth extension work.

Drivers, Barriers and Success Factors in Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Farmers: A Case Study in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam

This paper aims to identify appropriate approaches and interventions of local governments and extension services through identifying the most potential adaptive measures in agricultural production of local farmers in Thai Nguyen province (Vietnam) and analyses of key drivers, barriers and success factors for climate change adaptation (CCA).The study was conducted during October 2019 – April 2020 in Thai Nguyen and two selected communes with 92 smallholder farmers and relevant stakeholders from the provincial to commune levels using both quantitative and qualitative methods.Results showed a highly vulnerable situation of the local farmers under the context of climate change with 60.9% and 44.6% of the interviewed farmers stating reduced crop/livestock productivity and crop losses, and reduced arable production land and number of crop seasons/year respectively.Ten most potential livelihood models and production practices were identified. For example, animal husbandry (pigs, cattle) combined with biogas digester installation; intercropping between fruit crops and annual crops; use of drought and disease resistant maize varieties; changes of crop patterns and calendars; water saving production techniques, etc. Driver, barriers and success factors for CCA suggestguiding actions for the local government and extension services to plan adequate approaches and interventions for embracing and upscalingthe CCA initiatives towards climate resilient farming communities.The guiding actions include:strengthening capacity of extension staff; providing update market information to farmers for their decisions of crops and livestock; disseminating new and locally appropriate CCA models and practices together with on-field demo-plots and farmer field schools; and building capacity for community organisations, production groups/cooperatives to promote community learning for wider adoption and thus sustainability of their farming systems in response to the changing environment.

Qualitative Assessment of the Economic Impacts of Horticulture Research and Extension at MSU Coastal Research and Extension Center

This paper summarizes opinions on the economic impacts of horticulture research and extension at the Mississippi State University, Coastal Research and Extension Center. More than 8400 horticulture producers, master gardeners, research and extension staff, and nonprofit organizations participated in horticulture events during the last five years. Qualitative assessments of horticulture research and extension performed by the faculty and staff were solicited during voluntary surveys.

ROLE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION; COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRESENT AND FUTURE ASPECTS IN DISTRICT KHANEWAL

Agricultural extension is the main driving force in technology transfer from researcher to the end users. But it is facing tremendous challenges due to lack of government interest and financial resources. The prominent issue of agricultural extension is to cover huge number of small farmers in scattered form. Information and Communication Technologies can play a vital role to resolve this issue. The present study was conducted in Tehsil Khanewal to evaluate the type of ICTs used by farmers and their contribution for the development of agricultural extension in future. Data were collected with the help of well-structured interview schedule from 234 farmers and collected data were statistically analyzed with the help of computer software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Higher variation was recorded which was ranging from (2.9%) to (66.6%) in case of ICTs as a source of agricultural information. The most prominent ICTs device used as a source of agricultural information was TV with exactly two third (66.6%) of the total respondents followed by mobile phone with slightly less than TV (63.6%). Use of Agri. websites and mobile Apps for agriculture consultancy were below bottom line with 4.7% and 2.9%, respectively. Mobile phone was on top ranking with weighted score=959 and mean value=4.12, as an effective tool for getting agricultural information in future. Agri. helpline was on the second number with weighted score=875 and mean value=3.74. It was suggested from our study that there is a need to create awareness among the farmers about the use of ICTs. Farmers must be educated by the extension staff about the use of internet and agriculture mobile apps for fetching the information and finding the solution of the problems which they face in fields.

Designing better input support programs: Lessons from zinc subsidies in Andhra Pradesh, India.

India has one of the largest agricultural input support programs in the world, delivered in the form of subsidies to farmers, raising concerns about its sustainability. This paper evaluates the performance of one such support, the micronutrient subsidy program in the state of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and presents a case for providing this support in the form of direct cash transfers. Under the program, key soil micronutrients- zinc, boron, and gypsum were distributed free of cost to farmers living in micronutrient-deficient areas, with identification and targeting managed entirely by the state. We survey 1621 farmers, 61 agriculture extension officers, and 78 agriculture input dealers to assess the efficacy of the program and to identify bottlenecks preventing effective targeting, with a focus on zinc. We find that use of non-subsidized zinc is high in AP, and awareness of benefits of zinc and physical access to input dealer shops are significant predictors of zinc use. We argue that the free provision of micronutrients may have created demand among farmers, but there is little justification to continue subsidizing such a program at such high rates or resorting to public distribution. We find that micronutrient procurement and distribution has become a burden on extension staff and crowds out the private sector. Our analysis shows that the subsidy can benefit more farmers if it is channeled through the network of private fertilizer dealers. We use administrative data on budgetary outlays and digital soil maps to suggest fiscal redistribution in the form of direct cash transfers that may ensure more effective targeting at a lower cost to the state.

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

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.

Environmental issues in relation to agricultural practices and attitudes of farmers: A case study from Saudi Arabia.

PurposeThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is continuously in search of environment-friendly farming practices since mass-scale agriculture was initiated. It is imperative to gauge to the level of awareness of the farmers on the agricultural practices causing environmental issue in order to devise new agricultural extension programs. This research aims to identify the attitudes of farmers towards agriculture and environment in Al-Ghat area of Saudi Arabia.MethodologyA simple random sample of 110 farms truly representing the farming community was drawn to meet the objectives of the study. Data were collected by using the pre-tested questionnaire during the face-to-face interviews. In order to understand the message of study, data were analyzed for percentages, arithmetic average and standard deviation in addition to the simple Pearson correlation coefficient.ResultsThe results showed that the high proportion (87.3%) of farmers was interested in continuing to work farm and 77.3% of farmers did not consider adopting agriculture their main occupation. The findings of the survey reveal that some 55.5% of the respondent farmers were aware of the agricultural practices and their relation to the environment. Some 57.3% of the surveyed farmers are aware of potential benefits of enhanced utilization of agricultural organic wastes. However, main profession, farm employment (as the independent variables) showed a significant positive correlation with the attitudes of farmers towards their working in agriculture (as a dependent variable). Also a significant negative relationship between the educational levels and the attitudes of the farmers towards working in agriculture was noticed. The study also indicated a significant correlation between education and the degree of awareness of agricultural practices related to the environment and maximizing the optimum utilization of agricultural waste i.e. organic residues.ConclusionsThe study suggested the need for new awareness and orientation programs to educate farmers and extension workers, highlighting the environment- friendly agricultural practices.Recommendation: There is need to offer incentives and facilities to keep the farmers stay in the farming business. Extension staff must keep educating them on beneficial features of organic farm waste and crop residues as organic fertilizers.

Farmers’ Perception and Adoption of Forest Conservation Practices in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria

The practice of shifting cultivation by farmers in Kaiama Local Government of Kwara State is been inhibited by the dedication of their farm lands used for various agricultural activities to national park, thereby resulting in the depletion of soil nutrients caused by continuous cropping on the available land. Thus, the study examines farmers’ perception and adoption of forest conservation practices in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State (The case of Kainji Lake National Park). Purposive random sampling was used to select three wards dedicated to the national park viz; Gwanabe 1, Kemanji and Wojibe. Primary data were gathered through the administration of questionnaires to 160 randomly selected farmers from each of the 8 communities in the three wards. Descriptive statistics, Likert-Scale and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The result shows that land acquisition was mainly (66%) through inheritance. Furthermore, rotational fallow is practiced by majority (79%) of the farmers. The perception of farmers on forest conservation practices shows that scattered trees on farm land is highly adopted (4.8) and perceived as profitable (3.0) and compatible (3.0). The result of the regression analysis shows that age, education, extension contact, farming experience, cooperative membership among others significantly influenced the adoption of forest conservation practices. The acquisition of tertiary education, training of extension staff and formation of farmers’ cooperative society among others were recommended.

Partners at Play: Engaging Parks and Recreation Departments in Extension’s Health Promotion Work

As Extension assumes a more prominent role in health promotion efforts at the national and local levels, it is increasingly important to build strong, sustainable partnerships with organizations that address health and health disparities across the socio-ecological model. Given the role that the built environment plays in fostering and impeding health and physical activity, we argue that state and local Extension staff should build and maintain strong partnerships with organizations that carry out this work at the national, state, and local levels, such as Parks and Recreation departments. This article presents a case study of how Extension staff in one North Carolina county built strong and sustainable partnerships with Parks and Recreation to create and enhance access to places to be active, particularly in low-income and communities of color. Drawing on this case study, we outline best practices that can facilitate these types of partnerships, based on experience from a two-year community-based research and Extension project at North Carolina State University.

Smallholder grain postharvest management in a variable climate: practices and perceptions of smallholder farmers and their service-providers in semi-arid areas

Field data on current crop postharvest management practices and perceptions from smallholder farming communities in an increasingly variable climate are scarce. Our study used a multi-dimensional approach to explore the practices and perceptions of these communities and their service-providers regarding grain postharvest management in semi-arid Mbire and Hwedza districts in Zimbabwe. A total of 601 individual household interviews, six focus group discussions with women and men, and interviews with 40 district stakeholders and 53 community key informants were conducted. Farmers and service-providers explained how climate change was threatening food security; causing reduced and more variable maize and sorghum yields of below 0.5 t/ha, alongside higher grain storage insect pest pressure. Increased food insecurity and concerns regarding grain theft have driven a shift from bulk storage in traditional outdoor free-standing granaries to polypropylene bags stacked inside the living quarters. Poor and improper use of synthetic pesticides in these circumstances exacerbates the health-related risks. Agricultural extension officers were the most common source of agronomic and postharvest information followed by farmer-to-farmer information exchange. Targeted postharvest training; participatory field trials involving agricultural extension staff, farmers and other service-providers; and policy dialogue around grain postharvest management and food security are proposed to help in strengthening the capacity to reduce grain postharvest losses under increasingly unpredictable conditions.

Institutional Capacity of Forest Management Unit in Promoting Sustainable Community-Based Forest Management. Case Study of Forest Management Unit in Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

The main issue of forest management policies in Indonesia is strengthening the role of Forest Management Unit (FMU) and community-based forest management. This study describes the performance of FMU and the priority needs for the institutional strengthening of FMU to promote community-based forest management in Central Sulawesi Province. The research applied a case study's descriptive method by exploring, classifying, and understanding the meaning of the problems encountered by the object examined. The study shows that the performance of the FMUs was not yet optimal in promoting community-based forest management. This problem attributed to the weak institutional capacity of FMU. Several aspects of the institution need improvements, including strengthening its capacity at the resort level, fulfilling the needs and capacity building of extension staff, as well as providing a legal mechanism for financial management to facilitate its business activities and cooperation. These priority needs were affected by government bureaucratic issues. It necessary the policy formulation governing the strengthening of community-based forest management in the FMU area that supports the independence goals of FMU.

Strengthening the Power of Evidence-Based Prevention in Cooperative Extension: A Capacity-Building Framework for Translation Science-Driven Behavioral Health

BackgroundTranslation science entails application of information gained through scientific research to practices intended to improve prevention and public health. The outreach arm of Land-Grant Universities—the Cooperative Extension System—is uniquely poised to facilitate this translation process and contribute to resolution of current substance misuse and other behavioral health issues.ObjectiveThis paper summarizes selected literatures that guided the conceptualization of a framework for building Extension’s capacity to enhance the translation process, in order to better address substance misuse and other behavioral health issues.MethodPeer-reviewed literature was obtained from journals representing varied disciplines including medicine, public health, education, and psychology. Journals for Extension professionals were a prominent source of relevant literature. The literature review informed the identification of relevant practice gaps, barriers in addressing those gaps, and the development of a capacity-building framework.ResultsThe framework described highlights opportunities for building Cooperative Extension’s capacity to address goals in four key domains. These goals include (1) catalyzing Extension’s organizational development to support science-driven practices, (2) bolstering prevention and behavioral health-oriented professional development for Extension faculty and staff, (3) creating a stronger culture of behavioral health in Extension, and (4) strengthening Extension’s financing of prevention-oriented behavioral health efforts.ConclusionAddressing the capacity-related goals identified in this paper could be a major catalyst for enhancing the power of proven, prevention-oriented behavioral health and, thereby, the well-being of our families, communities and nation.

Cooperative Extension as a Force for Healthy, Rural Communities: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions.

Cooperative Extension (Extension), part of the land-grant university system, has been engaged in rural communities for more than a century. While the focus of Extension's efforts has largely centered on agriculture, there is an important thread of work that has similarities to public health.As Extension settles into its second century, we are working to be even more engaged in efforts that improve the health and well-being of rural communities in particular. Extension faculty and staff are accomplishing this through direct-to-the-population education and through partnerships with more classically oriented public health organizations able to leverage Extension's networks and positive reputation in communities to engage them and improve their health. A component of these partnerships includes Extension faculty and staff increasingly engaging in policy, systems, and environment work and other initiatives that help ensure longer-term, systemic changes more likely to improve health outcomes.In short, Extension clearly changed the agricultural system of the United States, and because of its reach into rural communities, it has the capacity to do for health in rural communities in this second century what it did for agriculture in the first century.

Sustaining agriculture with information: An assessment of rural citrus farmers’ information behaviour

This study investigated information behaviour of citrus farmers residing in rural areas of Sargodha, Pakistan. The data were collected from 120 adult male farmers through face to face interviews using preformulated questionnaire and analyzed by applying descriptive statistics. The citrus farmers required information on land preparation, soil fertility management, better citrus varieties, citrus trees protection, harvesting techniques, pest and diseases control, fertilizer applications, plantation techniques, finance, Government policies and programs, better pricing, labor information in the locality, agrochemicals, how to stop fruit drop, weather, irrigation management, pesticides application, health and safety information, buyers, collections and traders, and herbicide. These farmers relied overwhelmingly on their prior experience and interpersonal relationships such as fellow farmers/friends, progressive farmers, for agricultural information. More than two-third of these farmers did not seem to have any contact, either written or oral, with government agricultural officials. The farmers’ farm size, education, and income appeared to predict their information needs and sources. Lack of timely access, inaccessibility, unawareness, bad timing of television programs, poor economic conditions, infrequent visits of extension staff, low level of education and language barriers were the primary obstacles in information acquisition. The results will be helpful for extension agents and librarians of the public libraries in the area while making adjustments for efficient and effective information delivery. This study would make a contribution in the existing research on farmers’ crop-specific information behaviour.

P45 Identifying Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Work in Cooperative Extension Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research

<h3>Background</h3> Following guidance provided in the 2014 National Framework for Health and Wellness, Cooperative Extension (CE) nutrition education programs in Louisiana shifted towards making policy, systems, and environmental (<i>P</i>SE) changes to promote healthy eating and increased physical activity according to the social-ecological model of behavior change. The transition to PSE work from an exclusive focus on direct nutrition education posed challenges for CE staff in Louisiana. In order to better understand barriers and facilitators to implementing PSE change work, we conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with CE staff using constructs from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). <h3>Objective</h3> To identify CE staff's perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing PSE change interventions according to CFIR constructs. <h3>Study Design, Setting, Participants</h3> Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 5 Cooperative Extension staff using an interview guide with questions based on constructs from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). <h3>Measurable Outcome/Analysis</h3> Interviews were transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were independently coded by 2 researchers using codes defined a prori according to CFIR constructs. Coding differences were resolved through consensus. <h3>Results</h3> Though all 39 CFIR constructs were relevant, 16 emerged through interviews with CE agents as either barriers or facilitators to the implementation of PSE change work. The adaptability of PSE work and its relative advantage over traditional direct education emerged as major facilitators to its implementation. Major barriers to the implementation of PSE change work included the relative priority of PSE change work within CE agents' organizations, the complexity of PSE change work, and a lack of resources to support implementation. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Implementing PSE change work poses a challenge for CE staff who have traditionally conducted only direct nutrition education programs. Cooperative Extension programs should ensure PSE change work is presented as a priority to all staff within the organization. Training materials for PSE change work should prepare CE staff for the complexity of these interventions and emphasize their advantages over direct education.

P43 Partnering with 4-H and High School Culinary Club to Provide School-Based Nutrition Education to Engage Latino Youth in Teaching Cooking Classes to Younger Youth and Adapting Healthy Eating Behaviors

ObjectiveTo implement Teens as Teachers Cooking Academy Program (TAT CAP) to underrepresented adolescents and explore their experiences in teaching younger youth and how the experience influences their attitudes and behaviors around healthy eating.Use of Theory or ResearchHaving adolescents serve as teachers of younger children is a promising approach to support positive youth behaviors. Research showed that teenagers improved their teaching skills, social and emotional learning during cross-age teaching by role modeling and hands-on cooking experience. It empowers youth to make healthy food choices by increasing their self-efficacy. A limited program has been implemented and evaluated among Latino adolescents in a high school setting.Target AudienceLow-income Latino high school (HS) students who participated in Culinary Art Club.Program DescriptionThe TAT CAP was developed through the partnership between University of California (UC) 4-H, CalFresh, and a local HS. UC Extension staff and HS chef gave trainings to 25 Latino HS students for them to use evidence-based cooking curriculum to teach the elementary students how to cook. During the sessions, teen teachers went over nutrition-related topics, cooking demonstrations, and gave younger youth hands-on culinary experience.Evaluation MethodsA post-program teen teacher survey assessed their attitudes and behaviors towards healthy eating, self-efficacy in cooking and teaching, and their experience of being teen teachers.ResultsTwenty-five HS students attended TAT CAP program and 19 completed the post-program survey. Over 50% of participants reported they paid attention to how many fruits and vegetables they were eating, ate breakfast most of the days, and ate meals with families after the program; 78% had given their family ideas of healthy meals and snack; and 100% participants said they learned healthy food choices. On average, over 90% of youth were confident in safe cooking behaviors, making change to a recipe, and being a teen leader.ConclusionsTAT program suggested an engaging way for Latino teenagers to learn nutrition and empower them to role model healthy eating behaviors to younger youth. To implement Teens as Teachers Cooking Academy Program (TAT CAP) to underrepresented adolescents and explore their experiences in teaching younger youth and how the experience influences their attitudes and behaviors around healthy eating. Having adolescents serve as teachers of younger children is a promising approach to support positive youth behaviors. Research showed that teenagers improved their teaching skills, social and emotional learning during cross-age teaching by role modeling and hands-on cooking experience. It empowers youth to make healthy food choices by increasing their self-efficacy. A limited program has been implemented and evaluated among Latino adolescents in a high school setting. Low-income Latino high school (HS) students who participated in Culinary Art Club. The TAT CAP was developed through the partnership between University of California (UC) 4-H, CalFresh, and a local HS. UC Extension staff and HS chef gave trainings to 25 Latino HS students for them to use evidence-based cooking curriculum to teach the elementary students how to cook. During the sessions, teen teachers went over nutrition-related topics, cooking demonstrations, and gave younger youth hands-on culinary experience. A post-program teen teacher survey assessed their attitudes and behaviors towards healthy eating, self-efficacy in cooking and teaching, and their experience of being teen teachers. Twenty-five HS students attended TAT CAP program and 19 completed the post-program survey. Over 50% of participants reported they paid attention to how many fruits and vegetables they were eating, ate breakfast most of the days, and ate meals with families after the program; 78% had given their family ideas of healthy meals and snack; and 100% participants said they learned healthy food choices. On average, over 90% of youth were confident in safe cooking behaviors, making change to a recipe, and being a teen leader. TAT program suggested an engaging way for Latino teenagers to learn nutrition and empower them to role model healthy eating behaviors to younger youth.

Process Evaluation of an Email-based Walking Program with Extension Educators

This study evaluated the implementation process of an email-based walking program from the perspectives of program deliverers. Twenty-four Extension Educators participated in the process evaluation. We used an online survey to examine the perceptions of the implementation process of Get WalkIN’, a twelve-week email-based walking program. Educators agreed that the provided program training and recruitment materials were sufficient for successful program delivery. Program implementation involved sending emails to program participants at least weekly. Educators also agreed that the program was easy to deliver and took twenty minutes or less to implement each week. Strengths and areas for program improvement are discussed. Suggestions included training on evaluation measures, inclusion of a process to send emails via tablets instead of only desktops, and ideas for engaging participants during program delivery. While the outcomes of this email-based program show positive behavior changes without face-to-face interaction between participants and Extension Educators, the face-to-face interactions familiar to Extension staff were still desired. Results will be used to improve implementation. Findings from this study can facilitate the development and implementation of other email-based Extension programs.

Capability Competence of Agricultural Extension Staff for Helping Rural Farming Communities Adapt/Mitigate to Climate Change Variability in Imo State, Nigeria

The study examined the capability of extension staffs of Imo ADP (Agricultural Development Programme) in helping rural farmers adapt/mitigate to climate change variability in agriculture. The specific objectives were to identify extension capability indicators of the staff; ascertain climate change awareness of the staff; examine the adaptation strategies promoted by extension staff; and identify perceived climate change capability competence of extension staff. One hundred and twenty extension staff of the Imo ADP was purposively selected and questionnaire administered to them. Percentage and mean were used to analyse the data. The findings reveal that the Imo ADP had more middle level personnel and few Subject Matter Specialists (SMS) with a low extension agent farmer ratio of 1:5947, with few bicycle and motorcycles. The staffs were aware of climate change menace through several sources with 91.7% receiving training on climate change. Extension workers promoted adaptation strategies like conservation agriculture (M=2.54), use of improved crop varieties (M=2.61), awareness campaigns (M=2.70), use of indigenous plants (M=2.81). The capability competence included having a good understanding of climate change (M=2.64), help others obtain credible climate change information (M=2.56) and ability to identify climate change impacts (M=2.63). It is recommended that more extension staff be engaged to reduce the low extension farmer ratio, train staff regularly on climate change issues to prepare them to address rural farmer climate information problems.

Agricultural Extension and Advisory Officers? Familiarity and Competence for Application of ICTs in Agricultural Advisory Services Delivery in Imo State, Nigeria

This paper examined the familiarity and competence of agricultural extension staff with and in use of ICT devices for communication to and with farmers. The specific objectives were to ascertain extension officers ’ familiarity with ICT devices; identify perceived ICT capability competence of extension officers; and identify perceived challenges facing extension staff use of ICT devices. One hundred and twenty (120) extension staff of the Imo ADP were purposively selected and interviewed. Percentage and mean were used to analyse the data. The findings reveal that the extension agents were familiar with radio, television, computers, internet, projector, printer, ipads, ipods, web-boards, interactive white boards among others. They have the ability to use computers, knowledge of the internet, use computers to solve problems, data processing and sending text messages - Lack of training in ICTs, poor infrastructure, and poor power supply, high cost of ICT devices and high cost of maintenance were challenges facing extension personnel in ICT use. To improve ICT use by extension offices, training should be given regularly to staff, availability of maintenance shops be encouraged and cost of ICT device be brought low.

Agricultural Extension Approaches and Climate Change Communication Within the Ndop Rice Sector, North West Region, Cameroon

Climate change communication is a pre-requisite for proper adaptation. This article seeks to examine the agricultural extension approaches used in the Ndop rice sector within the context of climate variability and change. Using a mixed research approach, questionnaires were administered to 216 purposively sampled rice farmers, interviews conducted with 16 extension agents and three focus group discussions were organized. Results revealed that extension workers have been using farm demonstrations, capacity building of farmers through training and participatory approaches. However, these approaches have proven to be limited and inefficient. Challenges in climate change communication are attributed to factors such as; low ratio of extension workers to rice farmers, inadequate communication in the mass media (7.14%), no access to internet (4.17%), low competencies of extension staffs (68.75%) and limited access to weather elements. Given that climate change communication is complex and requires a mastery of the climatic systems, the extension services need to continuously upgrade capacities of their staffs and strengthen the link between research institutions, extension workers and farmers.