European Journal of Economic and Financial Research
ISSN: 2501-9430
ISSN-L: 2501-9430
Available on-line at: http://www.oapub.org/soc
Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2017
doi: 10.5281/zenodo.400777
PERCEIEVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME CAPACITY BUILDING ON THE PERFORMANCE OF
ARABLE CROP BASED CONTACT FARMERS IN UMUAHIA
AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
Obinna, Leo. O.i
Dr., Lecturer, Department of Rural Sociology and Extension,
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
Abstract:
The study which was conducted in Umuahia Agricultural Zone of Abia State, Nigeria
made use of the EAs in the Zone in identifying the contact – farmers. A simple random
method was used to select 20 % of the contact farmers which gave a sample size of 144
respondents that was used. Structured questionnaire was used in the generation of the
primary data. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the data. Results
showed 69.4 % of the respondents were males, and 30.6 % females. About 83.3 % were
married with a mean age of 43 years and 93.1 % had formal education with a mean
household of 6 persons, and 13.5 years, of mean years of farming experience with a
mean farm- size of 0.9 hectares and mean monthly income of ₦33,569.44 respectively. A
high level (X = 2.68) of participation in ADP – capacity building programmes was
recorded. The respondents, were within the categories of early adopters (X = 3.68) in the
adoption of ADP recommended innovations. About (X = 69.4 %) of the respondents
indicated that, the ADP trainings did not address their felt needs, (X = 62.5 %) sessions
were held at the wrong time, (X = 58.3%) training centres not centralized and (X= 51.4%)
felt that training sessions were too long & boring. The study recommends that the ADP
should strengthen the feedback mechanism as to ensure that their trainings address the
felt needs of farmers. Also, a performance evaluation of the contact farmers by the ADP
should be a regular exercise as to ensure that it is only the performing ones that are
retained as contact farmers, mostly in the study area.
JEL: N5, O13, Q13, Q18
Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved.
© 2015 – 2017 Open Access Publishing Group
93
Obinna, Leo. O
PERCEIEVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CAPACITY BUILDING
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARABLE CROP BASED CONTACT FARMERS IN
UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords: ADP, contact farmer, effect, performance, Umuahia agricultural zone
1. Introduction
Small–scale farmers in Nigeria produce about 80 % of food crops mainly for
consumption and also engage in the production of other crops for export sales. (Ekong,
2010) Therefore, these small – scale farmers need regular intensive extension education
training programmes and capacity building on relevant innovations and production
techniques for sustainable agricultural activities (Ermie, 2006). This has become very
imperative as agricultural production in Nigeria and the world at large has become
very complex, due to the resultant effects of climate change. Therefore, training plays an
important role in the advancement of human performance in a given situation (Ukoha,
2014). She also asserted that training provides a systematic improvement of knowledge
and skills which in turn helps the trainees to function effectively. United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) (1998) also, stated that capacity building is a process
or activity that improves the ability of a person or entity to carry out stated objectives.
And / or a process that improves the ability of a person, group, organization or system
to meet its objectives or to perform better (UNDP, 1998). On the same note, UNDP
(2008) defined capacity development as a process by which organizations enhance their
technical capabilities, resources, infrastructure and managerial systems in the
appropriate, community, legal, political and socio economic, contexts, in-order to
deliver effective training for improved performance and service access and quality.
Finally, Ermie (2006) defined capacity building in agricultural extension as the process
whereby relevant stakeholders and organizations unleash, strengthen, create, adapt and
maintain capacity over time, usually with the objective of assuring sustainable
agricultural growth and improve the lives of the stakeholders.
On the other hand, the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) is the
implementation organ of the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources
(Abia–ADP, 2006). The ADP adopts the Integrated Rural Development Strategy (IRDS)
in its operations and has the responsibility of planning, organizing, directing, and
controlling extension activities in Nigeria (Unamma, 2004). The main focus of ADP is on
the small- scale farmers who constitute over 80 % of the population of rural dwellers in
Nigeria (Ekong, 2010). The ADP also, adopts the Training and Visit (T&V) extension
approach in the dissemination of low – cost labour saving and technical information to
rural farmers in- order to upgrade their knowledge and skills for increased productivity
(Unamma, 2004). The ADP through the T&V extension system holds the Monthly
European Journal of Economic and Financial Research - Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2017
94
Obinna, Leo. O
PERCEIEVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CAPACITY BUILDING
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARABLE CROP BASED CONTACT FARMERS IN
UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
Technology Review Meeting (MTRM), where Researchers from research institutes train
the Subject Matter Specialists (SMS), who in turn train the Village Extension Agents
(VEA) during the Forth Nightly Training (FNT) sessions. The VEAs in turn train the
rural small – scale farmers through the contact farmers on improved agricultural
practices (Unamma et al., 2004). On that note, Asiabaka (2002) defined Contact Farmers
as those farmers that have direct contact with the ADP. They comprise of innovators,
farmers that are willing to take risks, those who are fully integrated and are well
respected and relied on by friends and neighbours in their farming communities,
youngest in age, those who have the highest social class, great financial liquidity, those
who have the closest contact with scientific sources and interactions with other
innovators. They are also willing to provide land, labour and time, they serve as role
models to members of their social system. On the other hand, the World Bank (1996)
equally, specified that contact farmers should be: representative of the local range of
farm size, cropping pattern and socio- economic condition; regarded by other farmers
as worthy of imitation; active and practicing farmers; those willing to adopt extension
recommendations on at least part of their land and allow other farmers to observe the
new practices and be willing to explain these to them; - and also to an extent possible,
they must come from different families and from different geographically dispersed
farms. Furthermore, Ukoha (2014) reported that contact farmers disseminate
information to the members of their respective farming communities and convey their
opinions back to the research institutes through the VEAs, thus creating a feedback
mechanism. Therefore, contact farmers provide the linkage for farmers with extension
and research. Ukoha (2014) equally, reported that the ADP- capacity building on
cassava crop based farmers comprised: use of improved varieties of cassava, optimum
plant population, timely planting,
row- planting and correct spacing,
fertilizer
application, labour saving technology (Integrated Pest Management (IPM), crop
geometry, timely weeding, routine watering, rodenticides application, insecticides
application, herbicides application, and fungicides application respectively ( Abia ADP,
2006). It was in consideration of the above that the study sought to investigate the
perceived effect of ADP - Capacity Building Training Programme on the performance of
Arable - Crop Based Contact Farmers in Umuahia Agricultural Zone of Abia State,
Nigeria.
The specific objectives that guided the study were to:
1. examine the socio economic characteristics of the arable crop based contact
farmers in the study area;
European Journal of Economic and Financial Research - Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2017
95
Obinna, Leo. O
PERCEIEVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CAPACITY BUILDING
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARABLE CROP BASED CONTACT FARMERS IN
UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
2. determine the level of participation of the respondents in the ADP- capacity
building training programmes on arable crops;
3. determine the adoption rate of the ADP technology packages on arable crops by
the respondents in the study area;
4. ascertain the perception of the respondents on ADP - capacity building training
programme on their performance in the study area; and
5. identify limiting factors of the ADP- capacity building programme training
activities to arable crop – based contact farmers in the study area.
2. Methodology
The study was conducted in Umuahia Agricultural Zone of Abia State, Nigeria. The
study population comprised of all the small scale arable crop based contact farmers in
the 13 Agricultural Blocks that make up the Zone (Abia ADP, 2006). According to
Unamma (2004), one Extension Agent (EA) covers about 800 to 1000 farm families and
that one Agricultural Block is made of 8 circles headed by one EA. Therefore, the 13
Agricultural Blocks in the Zone has a population of about 7,200 farm families (average
of 900 farm families per circle). The EAs identified the contact farm families in their
circles. “bout
% of the total farmers’ population was found to be contact farm
families (720 contact farm families). Then, for even spread,
% of the contact farmers’
population was randomly selected. Giving 144 contact farm families as the sample size
for the study. Primary data for the study were generated through the use of structured
questionnaire. Data were analyzed through the use of descriptive statistics such as
frequency counts, percentages, means, pooled means, and ranks respectively.
According to the UNDP (2008) capacity measurement framework can be realized
using a results – based approach which involve three levels: (i) impact or effect, which
implies changes in people’s well- being. (ii) outcome, which implies change in
institutional performance, stability and adaptability and (iii) output, which involve
products or service provided based on capacity development on core issues such as
institutional arrangement, leadership, knowledge and accountability. The chain of
events, inputs- activities- outputs- outcomes- impact (effect) is known as the result
chain and is a simple, systematic cause – effect approach to managing and measuring
development study. Therefore, the study focused on contact farmers’ performance
which depends on operational and technical efficiency resulting from the capacity –
building training programmes of the ADPs. A four- point Likert type scale of Very
Often, scored 4 points, Often, scored 3 points, Not Very Often, scored 2 points and
European Journal of Economic and Financial Research - Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2017
96
Obinna, Leo. O
PERCEIEVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CAPACITY BUILDING
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARABLE CROP BASED CONTACT FARMERS IN
UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
Never, scored 1 point respectively was used in- order to establish the level of
participation. 4+3+2+1= 10/4= 2.5, a threshold of 2.5 was established and any mean ≥ .5
was adjudged significant, while any mean < 2.5 was adjudged not significant. And
level of participation was fixed as follows: Means between 1 - 2.49 points = Low Level of
participation. On the other hand, Means between 2.5
- 4 points = High Level of
participation. For the rate of adoption of ADP recommended technology packages, a 5
point Likert type rating scale of Very High Extent, scored 5 points, High Extent, scored
4 points, Moderate Extent, scored 3 points, Low Extent, scored 2 points and Very Low
Extent, scored
point respectively. “ny mean ≥
was adjudged significant while mean
< 3 was adjudged insignificant. The adoption categories according to Rogers (1983)
were established as follows: means between 1 - 1.7 = Laggards Category. 1.8 - 2.5
= Late Majority Category, 2.6
- 3.3
= Early Majority Category, 3.4
- 4.1 = Early
Adopters Category and 4.2
- 5.0 = Innovators Category respectively. Also another
Likert type of rating scale of S/A = Strongly Agreed, scored 4pts. A = Agreed, scored 3.,
D = Disagreed scored 2pts., and S/ D = Strongly Disagreed, scored 1pt respectively. Any
mean ≥
.5 was adjudged significant, while any mean <
.5 was adjudged not
significant. The extent of perceived effect was established as follows: Means between 1 –
1.6 = very low effect, 1.7 – 2.3 = low effect, 2.4 – 3.0 = moderate effect and 3.1 – 4 = high
effect respectively.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1 Socio–Economic Characteristics of the Respondents
Table 1 shows that about 69.4 % of the respondents were males and 30.6 % females
respectively. Table 1 equally, shows that the mean age of the respondents as 43 years
and 83.3 % of them were married and 6.9 % single respectively. About, 93.1 % of the
respondents had formal education, with a mean household size of 6 persons and mean
years of farming experience of 13.5 years respectively.
Table 1 further shows a mean farm size of 0.9 hectares and a mean monthly
income of ₦33,569.44 respectively. The findings in Table 1 display a typical
characteristic of contact farmers as reported by Asiabaka (2002) who characterized
contact farmers as innovators, youngest of age, highest social class, great financial
liquidity, farmers with closest contact with scientific sources and farmers that interact
with other innovators among others.
European Journal of Economic and Financial Research - Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2017
97
Obinna, Leo. O
PERCEIEVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CAPACITY BUILDING
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARABLE CROP BASED CONTACT FARMERS IN
UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
Table 1: Socio Economic Characteristics of the Respondents
S/No
01
Variables
Gender
Male
Female
02 Age in Years
≤ 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
≥ 61
03 Marital Status
Single
Married
Divorced / Separated
Widowed
04 Educational Status
No formal Education
Primary Education
Secondary Education
Higher Education
05 Household Size ( no of persons)
≤ 4
5 - 6
7 - 8
≥9
06 Farming Experience in years
≤ 5
6 - 10
11 - 20
21 & Above
07 Farm Size in Hectares
≤ 0.5
0.6 - 0.7
0.8 - 0.9
1.0 - 1.1
1.2 & Above
08 Monthly Income in Naira ( ₦ )
≤ 18,000.00
19,000.00 - 29,000.00
30,000.00 – 40,000.00
41,000.00 - 51,000.00
52,000.00 & Above
Total
Source: Field Survey 2016
Frequency
Percentage (%)
100
44
69.4
30.6
10
15
25
40
30
24
6.9
10.4
17.4
27.8
20.8
16.7
10
120
8
6
6.9
83.3
5.6
4.2
10
30
60
44
6.9
20.8
41.7
30.6
34
45
40
20
23.6
31.2
27.8
17.4
15
40
55
34
10.4
27.8
38.2
23.6
15
25
30
35
39
10.4
17.4
20.8
24.3
27.0
25
40
30
29
20
144
17.4
27.8
20.8
20.1
17.4
100
European Journal of Economic and Financial Research - Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2017
Mean
43 yrs.
6 persons
13.5 years
0.9 hectares
₦33,569.44
98
Obinna, Leo. O
PERCEIEVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CAPACITY BUILDING
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARABLE CROP BASED CONTACT FARMERS IN
UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
3.2 Determination of the Level of Participation of the Respondents in ADP Capacity
Building Training Programmes on arable crops
Table 2 shows that the respondents recorded high – level of participation in the
following ADP Technology Training Packages: use of improved cassava varieties with a
mean of (3), Optimum plant population and timely planting (X= 2.59), Row – planting
and correct spacing (X=2.56), fertilizer application (X= 2.74), labour – saving technology
(X = 2.90), crop geometry ( X= 2.53), timely weeding (X= 2.98) and herbicide and
fungicide application ( X = 2.53) respectively. On the other hand, the respondents
equally recorded low level of participation in rodenticide and insecticide application (X
= 2.38). Furthermore, Table 2 equally shows that the grand mean (X = 2.68) for all the
training technology packages recorded high level of participation. Therefore, the result
in Table 2 presents a typical characteristic of a contact farmer by participating highly in
the ADP programmes. This collaborated Ifenkwe (2013) who highlighted one of the
characteristics of contact farmers to be having contact with ADPs.
Table 2: Distribution of the Respondents According to Their Level of Participation in ADP
Capacity Building Training (n= 144)
S/
No
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
ADP Training
Packages
Use of Improved Varieties
Optimum plant population & Timely Planting
Row-planting &Correct Spacing
Fertilizer Application
Labour Saving Technologies
Crop – Geometry
Timely Weeding
Herbicide & Fungicide Application
Rodenticide & Insecticide Application
Grand Mean
Very
Often
50
30
40
30
45
30
35
35
25
Often
60
50
60
50
55
40
40
40
40
Not Very
Often
20
40
34
60
34
50
40
35
45
Never
Mean
Level
14
24
10
4
10
24
29
34
34
3.00
2.59
2.90
2.74
2.93
2.53
2.56
2.53
2.38
2.68
High
High
High
High
High
High
High
High
Low
High
Source: Field Survey 2016
3.3 Identification of the Perceived Rate of ADP Technology Adoption by the
Respondents in the Study Area
Table 3 shows that out of 9 ADP – Technology Packages investigated, eight were very
highly rated by the respondents. They include: use of improved varieties (X = 3.84),
optimum plant population and timely planting (X= 3.85), row planting & correct
spacing (X = 3.81), fertilizer application (X = 3.94), labour saving technologies (X = 3.86),
crop geometry (X = 3.64), timely weeding (X = 3.78), and fungicide & herbicide
applications (X = 3.67) respectively. It is only application of rodenticides & insecticide
that were rated moderately by the respondents. This might be due to the fact that these
European Journal of Economic and Financial Research - Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2017
99
Obinna, Leo. O
PERCEIEVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CAPACITY BUILDING
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARABLE CROP BASED CONTACT FARMERS IN
UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
technologies were not regarded as important as the other ones. Table 3 equally shows
that the grand mean (X = 3.68), which implies that holistically all the technology
packages were very highly rated. This finding collaborate Rogers (1983) who provided
a framework for categorizing adopters vis; innovators, early adopters, early majority,
late majority and laggards respectively. From the categorization, the finding in Table 3
shows the respondents to have fallen into the category of Early Adopters. Ifenkwe
(2013) presented early adopters as farmers that are fully integrated and are well
respected and relied on by friends and neighbours in their farming communities.
Table 3: Distribution of the Respondents According to Their Perceived Extent of Adoption of
the ADP Technology Packages
S/No
01
02
Technology Packages
Use of Improved Varieties
Optimum plant Population &
Timely Planting
03 Row – planting & Correct Spacing
04 Fertilizer Application
05 Labour Saving Technology
06 Crop Geometry
07 Timely Weeding
08 Rodenticide & Insecticide
Applications
09 Fungicide & Herbicide Applications
Grand Mean
Source: Field Survey 2016
V/H/E
50
50
H/E
60
50
M
20
20
L/E
14
20
V/L/E
04
Mean
3.84
3.85
Categories
Early Adopters
Early Adopters
50
45
60
30
30
20
45
60
40
60
40
30
30
20
20
30
40
30
10
19
12
20
10
14
09
12
04
24
50
3.81
3.94
3.86
3.64
3.78
2.69
Early Adopters
Early Adopters
Early Adopters
Early Adopters
Early Adopters
Early Majority
20
40
40
24
-
3.67
3.68
Early Adopters
Early Adopters
V/H/E = Very High Extent, weighted and scored 5 points. H/E = High Extent, weighted
and scored 4 points. M/E = Moderate Extent, weighted and scored 3 points. L/E = Low
Extent, weighted and scored 2 points. V/L/E = Very Low Extent, weighted and scored 1
point respectively.
3.4 Respondents’ Perception of the ADP – Capacity Building Training Programme on
Their Performance in the Study Area
Table 4 shows that all the nine ADP- capacity building training programme had
significant effect on the respondents. They include: increased farm yield ( X= 3.2) and
ranked 1st , improved farming skills ( X= 3.0) and ranked 2nd , improved decision –
making abilities ( X= 2.89) ranked 3rd , better soil management technique ( X= 2.76),
ranked 4th , increased income ( X= 2.75) and ranked 5th , better control of weeds ( X=
2.68) and ranked 6th , improved interactions with other farmers ( X= 2.67) and ranked 7th,
better control over pests & diseases ( X = 2.58) and ranked 8th and improved leadership
European Journal of Economic and Financial Research - Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2017
100
Obinna, Leo. O
PERCEIEVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CAPACITY BUILDING
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARABLE CROP BASED CONTACT FARMERS IN
UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
abilities ( X= 2.5) and ranked 9th respectively. Since the Grand Mean in Table 4 is equals
to 2.78, it then implies that the ADP- capacity building training programme had a
moderate effect on the performance of the contact farmers in the study area.
Table 4: Distribution of the Respondents According to Their Perception of the ADP –capacity
building Training Programme Effect on Their Performance (n= 144)
S/No
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
ADP- Capacity Building Training
Increased your farm yields
Improved your decision- making abilities
Improved your farming skills
Improved your interactions with other farmers
Improved your leadership abilities
Better soil management technique
Better control over pests & diseases
Better control of weeds
Increased income
Grand Mean
Source: Field Survey 2016
S/A
60
44
50
34
40
40
30
34
24
A
50
60
54
60
34
50
54
50
80
D/A
34
20
30
20
50
34
30
40
20
S/D
20
10
30
20
30
20
20
Mean
3.2
2.89
3.0
2.67
2.5
2.76
2.58
2.68
2.75
2.78
Ranks
1st
3rd
2nd
7th
9th
4th
8th
6th
5th
3.5 Limiting Factors to ADP – Capacity – Building Training Programmes in the Study
Area
Table 5 shows that out of eight factors investigated as limiting factors to ADP –
Capacity Building Training Programmes in the study area, only four were significant.
They include: training programmes not addressing respondents’ felt needs, ranked
st
with a score of 69.4 %, training sessions were held at wrong time, ranked 2 nd with a
score of 62.5 %, training centre not central, ranked 3rd with a score of 58.3 % and
training sessions were too long and boring, ranked 4th with a score of 51.4 %
respectively .Table 5, equally shows the insignificant factors to include: trainings were
not taken one at a time, ranked 5th with a score of 41.7 %, lack of interest by the
respondents, ranked 6th with a score of 34.7 %, contents of the training complex & very
difficult to understand ranked 7th , with a score of 31.25 %, and cultural and traditional
issues, ranked 8th with a score of 27.8 % respectively. The implication of the finding is
that the four factors that require constant review and updating because the felt needs of
the farmers are never the same and they continue to change with time. Therefore, this
calls for participatory review of the training design and content between the ADP and
the Farmers as to ensure the appropriateness of the training contents. The finding
collaborates Nwachukwu (2003), who emphasized the importance of innovations
addressing farmers felt needs of the beneficiaries.
.
European Journal of Economic and Financial Research - Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2017
101
Obinna, Leo. O
PERCEIEVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CAPACITY BUILDING
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARABLE CROP BASED CONTACT FARMERS IN
UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
Table 5: Distribution of the Respondents According to Limiting Factors to
ADP-Trainings (n= 144)
S/No
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
ADP Training Programme Packages
Training Programmes did not address felt needs of Respondents.
Yes
No
Training Sessions were held at the wrong Time
Yes
No
Training Centers not Centralized
Yes
No
Training sessions were too long & boring
Yes
No
Training sessions were not taken one at a time
Yes
No
Lack of interest by respondents
Yes
No
Training Contents complex & difficult to understand
Yes
No
Cultural & Traditional Issues
Yes
No
Frequency
Percentage (%)
Ranks
100
44
69.40
30.60
1st
90
54
62.50
37.50
2nd
84
60
58.30
41.70
3rd
74
70
51.40
48.60
4th
60
84
41.70
58.30
5th
50
94
34.70
65.30
6th
45
99
31.25
68.75
7th
40
104
27.80
72.20
8th
Source: Feld Survey 2016
4. Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
The study was conducted in Umuahia Agricultural Zone of Abia State, Nigeria. The
EAs in the Zone assisted in the identification of the contact – farmers in their circles and
through simple random method were 20 % of the contact farmers (144) were selected to
form the sample size that was used for the study. Structured questionnaire was used in
the generation of the primary data. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the
data. Results showed that 69.4 % of the respondents were males, while 30.6 % were
females respectively. About 83.3 % were married with a mean age of 43 years and 93.1
% had formal education. Equally, a mean household of 6 persons, mean years of
farming experience of 13.5 years, mean farm- size of 0.9 hectares and mean monthly
income of ₦33,569.44 respectively were recorded. The respondents recorded high level
(X = 2.68) of participation in ADP – capacity building programmes. They equally, were
within the categories of early adopters (X = 3.68) in the adoption of ADP recommended
European Journal of Economic and Financial Research - Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2017
102
Obinna, Leo. O
PERCEIEVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CAPACITY BUILDING
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARABLE CROP BASED CONTACT FARMERS IN
UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
innovations. ADP trainings not addressing the felt needs of the farmers (X = 69.4 %),
trainings sessions held at the wrong time (X = 62.5 %), training centres not centralized (
X = 58.3%) and training sessions too long & boring (X = 51.4 %) were identified as
challenges to ADP capacity building programmes in the study area. The study
recommended that the ADP should strengthen the feedback mechanism as to ensure
that their trainings address the felt needs of farmers. Also, a performance evaluation of
the contact farmers by the ADP should be a regular exercise as to that it is only the
performing ones are retained as contact farmers, mostly in the study area.
References
1. Abia ADP (2006). Root and Tuber Expansion Programme (RTEP), Annual Report
2001 – 2006 pp 1 – 52.
2. Asiabaka, C. C. (2002). Agricultural Extension. A handbook of Development
Practitioners. Omuku: Molsyfem United Service.
3. Ekong , E. E. (2010) Rural Sociology (3rd Ed ) Dove Educational Publishers Uyo
Nigeria pp 1- 425
4. Ifenkwe, G. E (2013): Adoption of Technology, In Ike Nwachukwu (eds)
Agricultural Extension and Rural Development. Lamb House Publications
Umuahia, Abia State, Pp 64 – 71.
5. Nwachukwu I
. “griculture Communication
Principles and Practices
Lamb House Publishers, Umuahia
6. Rogers, E. M (1983) Diffusion of Innovations: Third Edition. The Free Press, New
York.
7. Ukoha, E. O (2014): Effect of ADP- Capacity Building Programme on the
Productivity and Poverty Level of Cassava- Based Farmers in Abia State,
Nigeria. A Ph. D Dissertation presented to the Department of Agricultural
Extension & Rural Sociology, MOUAU.
8. Unamma, R. P. A; O. C. Onwudike; A. C; Uwaegbute; H. O Edeoga and A. C.
Nwosu (2004) Linkage Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture in Nigeria. Research
– Extension- Farmer- Input Linkage System (REFILS) MOUA publication 157 p.
9. Unamma, R. P. A (2004) Farming Systems Research and Development in Nigeria.
Principles and Practice in Humid and Derived Savanna South- East Zone. Ben –
Elmanygold Communications Umuahia.
European Journal of Economic and Financial Research - Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2017
103
Obinna, Leo. O
PERCEIEVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CAPACITY BUILDING
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARABLE CROP BASED CONTACT FARMERS IN
UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
10. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (1998) General Guidelines for
Capacity
Building
Assessment
&
Development.
Accessed
online
at
http://magnet.undp.org/cdrb/genguid.htm
11. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (2008) Capacity Development
Practice Note, UNDP New York NY10017 USA: Accessed online at
http://www.undp.org/capacity/ourapproach.shtml.
12. World ”ank
99
Nigeria: Poverty in the midst of plenty: The challenges of
growth with Exclusion
“ World ”ank Poverty Assessment Population and
Human Resources Division, African Region Report No. 14733 Washington D.C.
European Journal of Economic and Financial Research - Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2017
104
Obinna, Leo. O
PERCEIEVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CAPACITY BUILDING
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ARABLE CROP BASED CONTACT FARMERS IN
UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA
Creative Commons licensing terms
Authors will retain copyright to their published articles agreeing that a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0) terms will
be applied to their work. Under the terms of this license, no permission is required from the author(s) or publisher for members of the community to
copy, distribute, transmit or adapt the article content, providing a proper, prominent and unambiguous attribution to the authors in a manner that
makes clear that the materials are being reused under permission of a Creative Commons License. Views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this
research article are views, opinions and conclusions of the author(s).Open Access Publishing Group and European Journal of Economic and Financial
Research shall not be responsible or answerable for any loss, damage or liability caused in relation to/arising out of conflict of interests, copyright
violations and inappropriate or inaccurate use of any kind content related or integrated on the research work. All the published works are meeting the
Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and noncommercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
European Journal of Economic and Financial Research - Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2017
105