FACTORS AFFECTING RICE FARMER’S PERCEPTION ON AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES DELIVERY IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study examined the factors affecting rice farmers’ perception of agricultural extension service delivery in Kano State, Nigeria. The study was motivated by the critical role that perception plays in determining farmers’ responsiveness to agricultural innovations disseminated through extension agents. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 279 rice farmers from a sampling frame of 925 across five major rice-producing Local Government Areas; Kura, Garun Mallam, Tudun Wada, Bunkure, and Bichi. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaire and analysed using both descriptive statistics and inferential statistic (Tobit regression models). The findings revealed that education level, cooperative membership, household size, and access to agricultural credit significantly influenced farmers’ perception of extension service delivery at 1%, 5%, and 10% significance levels, respectively. Other variables such as age, sex, farm size, land ownership, and farming experience had no significant influence. The study also established that married and full-time farmers were more likely to have favorable perceptions of extension agents, while farmers engaged primarily in non-agricultural occupations were less likely to do so. The model was statistically significant at the 1% level (LR χ² = 58.50; p < 0.01) with a pseudo R² of 0.210, indicating a good model fit. The study concludes that educational attainment, cooperative participation, and access to credit facilities play critical roles in shaping positive perceptions of extension service delivery. It recommends the strengthening of farmers’ capacity through education, financial support, and institutional linkages to improve the effectiveness of extension programs.