Knowledge and Competence of Agricultural Extension Field Workers in Farmer-Group Facilitation in Kwara State, Nigeria
The weakness of most farmer-groups in Nigeria has been linked to poor group facilitation by field agricultural extension workers. The study assessed the knowledge and competence of extension officers in group facilitation. A two-stage random sampling technique was used to select 174 farmers on which...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Mendel University Press
2021-05-01
|
| Series: | Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://acta.mendelu.cz/artkey/acu-202102-0006_knowledge-and-competence-of-agricultural-extension-field-workers-in-farmer-group-facilitation-in-kwara-state-n.php |
| _version_ | 1818609564117893120 |
|---|---|
| author | Kemi Funmilayo Omotesho Blessing Akinola-Soji Gbolagade Benjamin Adesiji Oluwasanjo Biodun Owojaiye |
| author_facet | Kemi Funmilayo Omotesho Blessing Akinola-Soji Gbolagade Benjamin Adesiji Oluwasanjo Biodun Owojaiye |
| author_sort | Kemi Funmilayo Omotesho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The weakness of most farmer-groups in Nigeria has been linked to poor group facilitation by field agricultural extension workers. The study assessed the knowledge and competence of extension officers in group facilitation. A two-stage random sampling technique was used to select 174 farmers on which a structured interview schedule was administered. A questionnaire was administered on all 69 field extension workers in the study area. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis, Pearson's Product Moment Correlation and t-test were used for data analyses. Results reveal that 65.2% of extension workers had good knowledge of group facilitation. Farmers rated extension workers lower (mean = 2.36) than the workers rated themselves in group facilitation (means = 3.12). Work experience of extension workers and their access to training in group dynamics significantly influenced workers' competence at P < 0.05. There was a significant relationship between the knowledge and competence of extension workers at p < 0.05 (r = 0.843). The study assessed extension workers' competence in group facilitation using both self and farmers' assessments, identifying specific areas of deficiencies in knowledge and competence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T15:00:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d068ecb6e18d4933b8a9384dca2ff82a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1211-8516 2464-8310 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T15:00:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Mendel University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis |
| spelling | doaj.art-d068ecb6e18d4933b8a9384dca2ff82a2022-12-21T22:27:19ZengMendel University PressActa Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis1211-85162464-83102021-05-0169223123910.11118/actaun.2021.020acu-202102-0006Knowledge and Competence of Agricultural Extension Field Workers in Farmer-Group Facilitation in Kwara State, NigeriaKemi Funmilayo Omotesho0Blessing Akinola-Soji1Gbolagade Benjamin Adesiji2Oluwasanjo Biodun Owojaiye3Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ilorin, University of Ilorin Permanent site, Tanke, Ilorin, Kwara State, NigeriaNigerian Stored Product Research Institute, Asa Dam Road, Ilorin, Kwara State, NigeriaDepartment of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ilorin, University of Ilorin Permanent site, Tanke, Ilorin, Kwara State, NigeriaLandmark University, Omu Aran, Kwara State, NigeriaThe weakness of most farmer-groups in Nigeria has been linked to poor group facilitation by field agricultural extension workers. The study assessed the knowledge and competence of extension officers in group facilitation. A two-stage random sampling technique was used to select 174 farmers on which a structured interview schedule was administered. A questionnaire was administered on all 69 field extension workers in the study area. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis, Pearson's Product Moment Correlation and t-test were used for data analyses. Results reveal that 65.2% of extension workers had good knowledge of group facilitation. Farmers rated extension workers lower (mean = 2.36) than the workers rated themselves in group facilitation (means = 3.12). Work experience of extension workers and their access to training in group dynamics significantly influenced workers' competence at P < 0.05. There was a significant relationship between the knowledge and competence of extension workers at p < 0.05 (r = 0.843). The study assessed extension workers' competence in group facilitation using both self and farmers' assessments, identifying specific areas of deficiencies in knowledge and competence.https://acta.mendelu.cz/artkey/acu-202102-0006_knowledge-and-competence-of-agricultural-extension-field-workers-in-farmer-group-facilitation-in-kwara-state-n.phpcompetenceknowledgegroup dynamicsgroup facilitationself-assessment |
| spellingShingle | Kemi Funmilayo Omotesho Blessing Akinola-Soji Gbolagade Benjamin Adesiji Oluwasanjo Biodun Owojaiye Knowledge and Competence of Agricultural Extension Field Workers in Farmer-Group Facilitation in Kwara State, Nigeria Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis competence knowledge group dynamics group facilitation self-assessment |
| title | Knowledge and Competence of Agricultural Extension Field Workers in Farmer-Group Facilitation in Kwara State, Nigeria |
| title_full | Knowledge and Competence of Agricultural Extension Field Workers in Farmer-Group Facilitation in Kwara State, Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and Competence of Agricultural Extension Field Workers in Farmer-Group Facilitation in Kwara State, Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and Competence of Agricultural Extension Field Workers in Farmer-Group Facilitation in Kwara State, Nigeria |
| title_short | Knowledge and Competence of Agricultural Extension Field Workers in Farmer-Group Facilitation in Kwara State, Nigeria |
| title_sort | knowledge and competence of agricultural extension field workers in farmer group facilitation in kwara state nigeria |
| topic | competence knowledge group dynamics group facilitation self-assessment |
| url | https://acta.mendelu.cz/artkey/acu-202102-0006_knowledge-and-competence-of-agricultural-extension-field-workers-in-farmer-group-facilitation-in-kwara-state-n.php |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kemifunmilayoomotesho knowledgeandcompetenceofagriculturalextensionfieldworkersinfarmergroupfacilitationinkwarastatenigeria AT blessingakinolasoji knowledgeandcompetenceofagriculturalextensionfieldworkersinfarmergroupfacilitationinkwarastatenigeria AT gbolagadebenjaminadesiji knowledgeandcompetenceofagriculturalextensionfieldworkersinfarmergroupfacilitationinkwarastatenigeria AT oluwasanjobiodunowojaiye knowledgeandcompetenceofagriculturalextensionfieldworkersinfarmergroupfacilitationinkwarastatenigeria |