INFLUENCE OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION EDUCATION ON FOOD CROP PRODUCTION IN ETCHE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study accessed the influence of Agricultural Extension Education on food crop production in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study was examined to: examine the socio-economics characteristics of the food crop farmers, identify the types of crop grown in the area, examine the influence of agricultural extension information sources, examine the influence of agricultural education on food crop practices and ascertain factors inhibiting agricultural extension education on food crops practices. 2 communities from the 5 clans in Etche Local Government Area (LGAs) were selected. A total of one hundred and Ten (110) respondents made up the sample size for the study. Questionnaire and interview schedule were the instrument used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using frequency, percentage, chart, mean statistics and factor analysis. Socio-economic characteristics of the respondents were analyzed with view to knowing their sex composition, marital status, age and educational background findingsrevealed hat 58% of the crop farmers are females, 41.8% were males. Mean age of crop farmers was 45.5% ears, with majority in the age bracket of 41-50 years, 36.4% of the respondent were married. Majority of the respondents were educated and 63.6% were full time farmers while 36.4% were part time farmers. Majority (95.4%) of the respondents were Christians while only 4.5% were Pegans. Farmers engage mostly on subsistence farming which represents 92.7% followed by the commercial farmers 7.3%. Majority of the farmers engaged a lot on subsistence farming in the study area.