Perceived Influence of Agricultural Extension on Cassava Production by the Farmers in Southern Nigeria

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) of brining zero hunger and promote food security are rooted in increasing agricultural productivity, especially from the crop sector component (Effiong and Effiong, 2015). This is because agriculture is considered as the engine of growth in many developing economies, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (CTA, 2018). Cassava is a crop with enormous potentials. It provides stable food base for the food need of the populace, compliments in livestock feeds and raw materials for industries (Effiong et al., 2015). Cassava, also seems to be recording resounding success in sub-Saharan Africa out of the numerous stories of crop intervention failures in the region. As a result of this, many African countries embraced its cultivation with vigor (Effiong, 2012a). Nigeria is one of such African countries who embrace cassava production. Almost every household in rural Nigeria grows cassava on small farms as one of the staple food crop to feed families and the local markets. According to Fakayode et al., (2018) and Effiong and Effiong (2015), cassava is a very important crop of Nigeria. They also noted that its comparative production advantage over other staples serves to encourage its cultivation even by the resource poor famers. Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world with about 40 metric tons per annum ahead of countries like Brazil and Thailand (Awoyinka, 2019). This figure was aggregated from small farms turning out an average of 10 tons per hectare. However, 10 tons/ha figure falls short of the production potential of cassava. An average of 15-30 tons per hectare is attainable (Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, 2018).
       
The difference between actual and technically feasible production for crops implies great potentials yet to be harnessed (Effiong, 2012b). In view of the growing importance and relevance of cassava in Nigeria, there is an urgent need to increase food production and export cassava for the much-needed foreign exchange on a sustainable basis, it is essential to focus on increasing production of cassava. Maintaining the current level of production will limit the extent to which the numerous potentials presented by the crop could be harnessed. It is anticipated that improved cassava production will assist Nigeria in maximizing the potentials of the crop, especially for poverty alleviation and income generation (Effiong, 2012b).
       
Awoyinka (2019) and Effiong et al., (2015) noted that Nigeria was yet to fully harness the socio-economic potentials of cassava that would translate to higher ranking of cassava next to petroleum as major contributor to the gross domestic products (GDP). Adducing reason for this, however Fakayode et al., (2018); Effiong and Effiong (2015) submitted that cassava farms just like the other crop farms are the small-scale types which are characterized by very low productivity. Increasing cassava production from 10 tons to 15-30 tons per ha is a significant challenge for the subsector. Effiong et al., (2015) affirmed that an important factor influencing farmers’ practices is their perception of how socio-economic environment in terms of agro-support network affects cassava production. Commenting on the situation of small scale farmers, Armando (2019) and Effiong et al., (2013) noted that the smallholder’s farm sector in developing countries are largely left without necessary support arrangements in infrastructure, extension services, local processing capacity, basic health care and education. Similarly, International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD (2018), Effiong and Effiong (2015) noted that the necessary infrastructural agro-support services to complement efforts of farmers were far from being self-available and may not operate in reliable ways if available. Extension service delivery agency is a critical stakeholder in the agricultural development of Nigeria. Agricultural extension refers to a set of organizations that support people engaged in agricultural production and facilitate their efforts to solve problems; link to markets and other players in the agricultural value chain; and obtain information, skills and technologies to improve livelihoods [Kristin, (2019); Effiong and Asikong (2013); Effiong (2012b)]. Government, through Agricultural Development Programs (ADP), private agencies through agro-input dealers and associations and non-governmental agencies provide extension related services to Nigerian farmers including cassava farmers.
       
The study sought to ascertain the influence of agricultural extension on cassava production by farmers in Southern Nigeria. Specifically, the study seeks to:
i) Describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area.
ii) Assess the perceived influence of agricultural extension on cassava production among farmers in the study area.
iii) Identify the perceived constraints of agricultural extension in enhancing the production of cassava in the study area.

The study was conducted in municipalities in Southern Nigeria made up of Uyo, Calabar, Umuahia, Abakaliki and Owerri. The people of Southern Nigeria are predominantly farmers and fishermen. Southern Nigeria is the major producer of Cassava, Cocoyam, Kolanut, Coconut, Palm produce as well as sea foods. The land is rich in mineral deposits such as petroleum deposits, gold, limestone, sand and slat deposits to mention a few. All these are available in commercial quantities for prospective explorers and investors.
               
The study adopted a multi-stage sampling technique. Stage one was a purposive selection of Uyo, Calabar, Umuahia, Abakaliki and Owerri due to their endowments with conditions conducive for cassava production.  Stage two involved a random selection of five (5) Cells, one from each of the municipalities in the study area (southern Nigeria) namely; Itu, Calabar South, Ikwano, Abakaliki and Owerri South. Stage three equally involved a random selected of twenty (20) respondents from each of the cells, giving a total of hundred (100) respondents use for the study.

Socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area
 
The data in Table 1, showed that majority (74%) of the cassava farmers in the study area were females, while 26% were males. The implication of this is that production level could be affected, especially, in a situation where major labours in the farms are manual. This result agrees with the findings of Effiong and Effiong (2015); Effiong et al., (2015); Effiong et al., (2015); Effiong et al., (2016); Effiong (2012a) that majority of the small-scale farmers are female farmers.
       
Table 1, also showed that majority (38%) of the respondents were between the age of 41-50 years, while (21% each) of respondents were age of >51 years and 20-30 years respectively followed by 20% who were 31-40 years of age. This implies that the cassava producers in the study area were mostly youths and this could have positive impacts on the productivity of cassava in the area as they are within the age bracket of labour force. These findings are in agreement with the findings of Effiong (2012b) who opined that productive labour force is within age 46-50 years.


       
More so, the result revealed that (32%) had their college certificates, while 27%, 24% and 11% had university degrees, senior secondary certificates and first school leaving certificates respectively, with only 6% who did not attain formal education. This implies that about 94% of the respondents had formal educational background. The implication of this is that, the rate at which innovations will be adopted will be high which in turn affect the production of cassava in the area. Furthermore, the result revealed that majority (34%) were married, while 33%, 19% and 14% were divorced, single and widow(er) respectively. This implied that some of the respondents were married and responsible enough to take critical decisions related to adoption of innovations from the extension agents in the course of cassava production activities in the study area.  This study is also in tandem with the work of Effiong and Aboh (2018); Effiong et al., (2023) who opined that education, age and sex are the major determinants of adoption of rubber production technologies and oil spillage activities in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
       
The occupational distribution of the respondents revealed that (38%) of them were into full time farming, 30% were both traders and farmers, while 16% and another 16% were fisher folks and those who were both civil servants and farmers respectively. This means that about 84% of the respondents were engaged in farming either wholly or partially, this implies that the respondents in the study area had experience about farming since that is their major occupation. This may as well affect the production of cassava negatively or positively in the area.
       
The data on distribution of household size showed that 39%of the respondents had between 6-10 persons, while 27% had 11-15 persons, 21% had 1-5 persons and 13% had 16 and above persons; with an average household size of 9 persons. This implied that, the study area was characterized by large family sizes and this may have positive effects on the production of cassava due to availability of family labour during the production process of the staple food. The result also showed that most of the respondents 49% had farm sizes ranging from 3.1-4 hectares. In the same vein, a good number of the farmers 42% had monthly income greater than 40,000.00, while 11% of them had income ranging from  31,000.00 to  40,000.00 respectively. This study is in tandem with the findings of Effiong et al., (2015) and Effiong (2013) who opined that the larger the family size, the higher the labour force in a small-scale farm enterprise. Data in Table 1 also indicated that majority of the farmers 49% had farm size ranging from 3.1 to 4 hectares. Also the data showed that most farmers 25% had income of 10,000 to 20,000 per month. This result is in agreement with the work of Effiong et al., (2018) who stated that farmers who had contacts with agricultural workers tend to have larger farm sizes compared with those without extension contacts. More so, Effiong et al. (2023) noted that farmers who had contacts with agricultural extension workers had increase harvest which translated into improved income in their agricultural enterprise.
 
Perceived influence of extension on cassava production
 
Table 2, showed the mean response of the perceived influence of extension on cassava production in the study area. Farmers agreed that cassava production practices were taught by extension (mean =1.05), extension taught farmers cassava processing techniques (mean =1.86), extension diffused improved cassava production techniques to the farmers (mean =1.24) and that extension took cassava production problems to research institutes (mean   =2.51). These results are true in view of the statement credited to Effiong, (2013) and Effiong, (2023) who stated that improved technological development and innovations in crop and animal production are products of extension services in Nigeria. However, a good majority of the farmers expressed negative attitude towards extension as an influencer of cassava production activities in the study area. The result agreed with Effiong (2013) who assertion that agricultural extension activities has not changed as much as desired due to poor funding and lack of interest in agricultural activities. The consequence is that in as much as humanity sees agricultural activities as inferior, unfulfilling, very hard and poor man’s business, it would be difficult to invest and develop interest in farming vis-a-vis cassava production.


       
The data showed that some of the respondents also disagreed with the following as contribution by the extension to improving the production of cassava in the area, they were; extension helped farmers on how to reduce soil compartments, extension train farmers on pest/disease control, extension help farmers in marketing, extension taught farmers cassava processing and production practices. This implies that, the contributions of extension to productivity of cassava in the study area is limited. This could be as a result of inadequate funding of extension programs and lack of well/trained extension agents in the study area. This result disagrees with Effiong and Aboh (2019), Ijioma et al. (2014) who stated that extension services advance the cause of crop production in Nigeria. In the same vein, Extension services play a very vital role in agricultural production, such roles include but not limited to the education of farmers, home management techniques, fertilizer application methods and soil management techniques among very many others (Aboh and Effiong, 2019; Effiong et al., 2021).
 
Perceived constraints of agricultural extension
 
The data in Table 3 revealed that the respondents in the study area had inadequate farm inputs, absence of credit facilities, inadequate funding, inadequate trained extension agents, poor conditions of extension, insufficient motivation of extension agents, inadequate logistics and poor transport network, with means of; =3.61, =3.52, =3.36, =3.22, =3.19, =2.80, =2.68 and =2.62 respectively, as major constraints to agricultural extension in enhancing the productivity of cassava in the study area. Nevertheless, language barrier and unfavorable attitude of farmers were also observed as constraints to agricultural extension from reaching targeted aims of enhancing the productivity of cassava in the study area, with mean = 2.43 and = 2.42 respectively.  The implication of this is that; these constraints affected the efficiency and effectiveness of extensions and may impact on the improvement of cassava production in the study area. This study is in tandem with the findings of Aboh and Effiong, (2019); Effiong, (2012a) and Effiong (2013), who opined that inadequate funding is a major constraint in agricultural production in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

The findings of this study showed that farmers disagreed with the fact that extension helped cassava farmers on how to reduce soil compartment, know their irrigation techniques, how to control erosion and control pest/diseases. The respondents however agreed that some cassava production practices were taught by extension. Also, some farmers agreed that extension diffused improved cassava production techniques to farmers in the study area.
       
The study concluded that farmers should be brought into the main stream of all extension activities, identify and prioritize, production problems, analyze and seek solutions to such problems within the framework of participatory extension activities. This would lead to increases in cassava production in the study area.

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made:
       
Agricultural extension administrators should stimulate agricultural production by providing extension services directed at cassava farmers to improve production of cassava. This could be achieved through motivation of extension agents and adequate training of the agents on the methods of improved cassava production and processing. In line with this, credit facilities and empowerment programs should be intensified while at the same time try to break language barriers in some communities by engaging indigenes of the area as extension officers.
       
There is need for adequate development initiative to put structures in place for cassava farmers to appreciate their environment. In this case, development agencies of government should provide adequate infrastructures and social amenities in farming communities to reduce some of the constraints facing cassava farmers in the study area. 

Professional trainings should be organized for agricultural workers to enhance skills in their performance index.

On behalf of all the authors in the article I wish to state that there is no conflict of interest among us.