Evaluation of Agricultural Extension Messages that Support Adoption of Improved Cassava Production Technologies : A Case of Public and Private Sector Extension in Rivers State, Nigeria

Research on improved cassava varieties in Nigeria was championed by IITA to enhance food security. Most new varieties had enormous advantages over the local varieties that had familiar terrain; hence mass adoption should be advocated. The public extension services adopted Training and Visit (T & V) system to canvas for adoption of the improved varieties. Similarly, the private sector extension system of the oil and gas companies bombarded same farmers with similar messages on improved cassava varieties. It appeared that the public and private sector extension approaches did not yield anticipated results as cultivation of local varieties was still on the increase in Rivers State, Nigeria. Thus, there was need to evaluate the technology packages in terms of agricultural extension messages on improved cassava varieties by the public and private systems as represented by Rivers State ADP and SPDC agric services respectively based on content, communication method and farming systems. This was indeed the main objective of the study. Methodology was participatory through interviews, Focused Group Discussion and questionnaires to semi-literate farmers. Data was obtained from both the service providers (extension agents) and clientele. It was difficult to isolate farmers based on sources of information. The public and private extension agencies targeted same farmers, a situation that created confusion in understanding, assimilation and adoption of technologies on improved cassava varieties. This confusion seemed to have caused moderate adoption while cultivation of local varieties was still on the increase regardless the concerted efforts of public and private sector extension systems. Analysis was by simple descriptive statistics, t-test and correlation. Results showed that farmers targeted by both public and private sectors were mostly illiterates on subsistence agriculture while cassava production was treated as "a woman crop". The content of extension messages (technologies) was not concise but ambiguous; thereby leading to multiple interpretations. The public sector extension officers complained of no sustainable mobility which affected frequency of visits. Extension officers from both public and private sectors became complaisant and relied on each other to fill gaps of inefficiency. This confirmed the adage "goats owned by more than a person always die of starvation". Farmers were left at the mercy of managing distorted information from extension officers. The private sector saw agricultural extension as Corporate Social Responsibility based on charity and not supported by any legislation or policy framework. It was adjudged as not having direct bearing to the upstream or downstream oil and gas sectors. Thus, agricultural extension service was down-played hence SPDC recently scrapped its agricultural services while TEPNG and NAOC are in dilemma of continued support to farmers. It was recommended that legislative and policy framework enforcing private sector extension system be required to demonstrate political will to sustain agricultural development in Nigeria and by implication, an assurance for food security. Commercial farms headed by men should be involved to enhance commercial production of cassava in Nigeria. Federal government of Nigeria should provide special incentive to encourage public and private sector extension services to sustain planned economic empowerment programme. Finally, as literacy level enhances assimilation of extension messages, special education should be organized for rural farmers as is the case with nomadic education to increase adoption rates. Conclusively, significant relationship exists between understanding of extension packages (messages) by clienteles and adoption of improved cassava varieties; hence the Federal Government of Nigeria will need to build this phenomenon into its transformation agenda for food security