Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2021, 69(2), 231-239 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun.2021.020

Knowledge and Competence of Agricultural Extension Field Workers in Farmer-Group Facilitation in Kwara State, Nigeria

Kemi Funmilayo Omotesho1, Blessing Akinola-Soji2, Gbolagade Benjamin Adesiji1, Oluwasanjo Biodun Owojaiye3
1 Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ilorin, University of Ilorin Permanent site, Tanke, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
2 Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute, Asa Dam Road, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
3 Landmark University, Omu Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria

The weakness of most farmer-groups in Nigeria has been linked to poor group facilitation by field agricultural extension workers. The study assessed the knowledge and competence of extension officers in group facilitation. A two-stage random sampling technique was used to select 174 farmers on which a structured interview schedule was administered. A questionnaire was administered on all 69 field extension workers in the study area. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis, Pearson's Product Moment Correlation and t-test were used for data analyses. Results reveal that 65.2% of extension workers had good knowledge of group facilitation. Farmers rated extension workers lower (mean = 2.36) than the workers rated themselves in group facilitation (means = 3.12). Work experience of extension workers and their access to training in group dynamics significantly influenced workers' competence at P < 0.05. There was a significant relationship between the knowledge and competence of extension workers at p < 0.05 (r = 0.843). The study assessed extension workers' competence in group facilitation using both self and farmers' assessments, identifying specific areas of deficiencies in knowledge and competence.

Keywords: competence, knowledge, group dynamics, group facilitation, self-assessment

Received: June 13, 2020; Revised: July 11, 2020; Accepted: February 26, 2021; Published: May 1, 2021  Show citation

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Omotesho, K.F., Akinola-Soji, B., Adesiji, G.B., & Owojaiye, O.B. (2021). Knowledge and Competence of Agricultural Extension Field Workers in Farmer-Group Facilitation in Kwara State, Nigeria. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 69(2), 231-239. doi: 10.11118/actaun.2021.020
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