AN EVALUATION OF EXTENSION TECHNOLOGY PACKAGES ON RICE PRODUCTION IN OGOJA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA.

¹Adie, U. B.; ²Aboh. A. A. & ³Bikom P. F.

¹Department of Agric Economics and Extension. Cross River University of Technology, Calabar

²Department of Agronomy, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar

³Department of Agric Extension, University of Calabar, Calabar

E-mail: adieubi67@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The study was designed to evaluate extension technology packages meant for rice production with the aim of assessing the rice production in Ogoja L.G.A. To identify various improved rice production packages recommended to farmers in the area, to determine methods of delivery to farmers adopted by extension assess degree of improved farmers to the rice production packages, to determine the effect of extension recommendations on rice production and identify variables influencing adoption of extension rice production programmes. Data was collected from 90 sampled rice farmers and 15 extension agents with the aid of semi-structured questionnaire. Analysis of data was done using percentages, frequencies and Chi-square statistics. The result shows lack of incentives, inadequate funding and irregular visitation which brought more serious constraints to the rice farmer. There is no significant relationship between improved technology packages and selected variable like (degree of extension contacts and farm size). Adoption of improved technology package is not significantly related to the level of education age and family size of the farmer. The adoption of improved technology package depends significantly on the source of information. Finally, it was recommended that the programme should be well funded and extension agents enlightened more on how to handle new programmes for better acceptance by rural farmers.

Keywords: Evaluation, Technology, packages, production, Rice, Adoption, socio-economic