ROLE OF EXTENSION SERVICES IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF BOKKOS LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE

TABLEOF CONTENT

Title page………………………………………………………………….i

Declaration………………………………………………………………..ii

Approval page …………………………………………………………..iii

Dedication…………………………………………………………………iv

Acknowledgement…………………………………………………………v

Table of content…………………………………………………………….vi

Abstract…………………………………………………………………….xii

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the study                                                                    1

1.2     Statement of the Problem                                                                   2

1.3     Research Questions                                                                           3

1.4     Objectives of the Study                                                                      3

1.5     Significance of the Study                                                                   4

1.6     Hypotheses                                                                                        5

1.7     Assumption                                                                                       5

1.8     Limitation of the Study                                                                      6

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2:1 Introduction                                                                                          7

2.2 The concept of rural development                                                          9

2.3 Definition and meaning of extension education                                       10

2.4 The role of extension education in Nigeria                                              13

2.5 The practice of extension in Nigeria                                                        15

2.6 Extension principles                                                                              17

2.7 Integrated approach to agricultural and rural development                       20

2.8 Understanding people in the rural area                                                    22

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1     The Study Area                                                                                 24

3.2     Sample and Sampling Procedure                                                         25

3.3     Instrument for Data Collection                                                           26

3.4     Validation of the Instrument                                                               26

3.5     Method of Data Collection                                                                 26

3.6     Method of Data Analysis                                                                    27

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1     Presentation of Demography Data                                                      28

4.2     Analysis of Data                                                                                28

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1     Summary of Major Findings                                                              38

5.2     Conclusion                                                                                        39

5.3     Recommendations                                                                             40

          References                                                                                         42

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of this study is to determine the role of extension services in rural development in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State ; relevant questionnaires were constructed and administrated in some selected district in the study area.Alternative hypothesis wasretained because there is a significant contribution of extension service in rural development in the study area.The finding reveal that 12% of the extension agents develop the rural main economically, while 78% of the extension agents development to rural main economically, socially and health, the problems encounter by workers in finding are poor attitude of farmers, language barriers, inadequate transportation system, high population density of farmers to be supervised per extension agents; the finding also suggest that training of more extension worker, provisionof transportation, fertilizer and improve seeds.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The rural areas are increasingly being recognized as the key economics section in Nigeria and their rapid development and modernization should be gaining the attention of the policy makers. At present, the rural areas form the most important sector of the economy because majority of the people live there. The general future development of Nigeria is dependent on rural areas economically. Agricultural extension work has spread throughout the modern world because in the long run, no country can afford to neglect its rural population. Every nation needs an adequate and in dependable supply of stable food stuff and fibred for all its people. Most present day governments have released that if the general standard of living is to rise above subsistence level, agricultural production must be enough to feed and clothes not only farmers and their families but all the citizenry, and thus help to generate. Revenue to the country.

Research has shown that considerable progress can be made in rural areas with proper dissemination of new agricultural innovations to them. Therefore, the rural extension agent is saddle with the responsibility of bringing up to date information about farming methods, community development and other related subjects of rural people.

The researcher wishes to investigate the impact of extension services on rural development in Bokkos Local Government Area.

1:2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.

There has never been much effect to determine the level of influences of extension activities on the rural farmers. These could be because there are inadequate extension agents and other intervening variable.

The question that comes to mind here is to what extent has the extension services been and what impact has these influences made on their level of agricultural production in rural area?

• RESEACH QUESTIONS.

1. What are the roles of extension agent in rural development in the study area?
2. What are the attitudes of farmers towards extension workers in the rural areas?
3. What are the levels of benefits derived by the rural farmers from extension services offered to them?
4. What are the impacts of these extension services in the development of the rural area?
5. What are the problems encountered by the extension workers during their service in the rural area?

1.4  OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The broad objectives of the research isto determine the role of the extension service in the development of the rural areas. But the specific objectives are to:

1. To identify the roles played by extension works education on rural development.
2. To examine the attitude of farmers towards extension workers in the study areas.
3. To assess the impacts of extension service in development area.
4. To access the level of benefits derived by the rural farmers from extension services offered to them.
5. To identify the problems count by the extension workers in the study.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The circumstances leading to the understanding of this topic can be trace to the observation by the researcher, the problem facing extension workers and the farmers in the rural areas. Also to study and identify the remote cause of the problem, this will go a long way to assist the farmer, extension education, problem encountered during services, the impact of this services in the rural development and proffer possible solution that will benefit the community by increasing their standard of living becomes imperatives therefore, to make it clear that the role the agricultural extension services in Bokkos local Government Area of Plateau State in particular with reference to extension services offer to them.so far the motive is not based on comparing with such role as may exist elsewhere in the state, it is essential that the basic ideas from this study are much application or adoptable to other areas in the state in as much as the result is put into cognizance.

1.6 HYPOTHESIS

For the purpose of this study the following hypothesis area stated below:-

Ha: Extension services contribute to rural development in Bokkos Local Government Area.

Ho: Extension services does not contributes to rural development in Bokkos Local Government Area.

          1.7 ASSUMPTION

For the study:

1. It is assumed that all extension workers are educated while majority of farmers are not.
2. It is assumed that the entire extension agent are qualify to carry out their responsibility.
3. It is assumed that the necessary materials provides for the extension workers to carry out their jobs and available.
4. It is assumed that there is proper planning management and control of the programs.

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study would have covered the entered Bokkos LGA but due to constrains such as lack of finance, time factor and limited secondary literatures for references. Tight academic schedules also contributed as limiting factors.