IMPACT OF NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND RESEARCH LIAISON SERVICES ADOPTED VILLAGE PROJECT ON BENEFICIARIES’ LIVELIHOOD

The study sought to analyze the impact of National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) of Ahmadu Bello University Adopted Village Project on beneficiaries’ livelihood (crop output and income) in Abia and Oyo States. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 140 respondents for the study. The data for analysis was based on 2013/2014 cropping season and were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentages, mean and inferential statistics such as t-statistic and multiple regression. Results of data analysis reveal that the mean ages of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the Project were 43 and 41 years for Abia and Oyo states, respectively. All (100%) the beneficiaries of the Project had contact with NAERLS staff with a mean of 2.4, while all (100%) the non-beneficiaries had no contact with NAERLS staff. It was found that beneficiaries in Abia and Oyo states ranked fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides as the foremost, improved seed/breeds was ranked 2nd, while maize seed and cassava cuttings was ranked 3rd among the input received. The result from Z-test reveals that the mean annual crop output of the beneficiaries of the Project was significantly higher (10827.86 kg) than the mean annual crop output of the non-beneficiaries (9910.71kg) by 917.15kg. (z=2.931; P<0 .01=”” also=”” annual=”” beneficiaries=”” found=”” higher=”” income=”” it=”” mean=”” of=”” project=”” significantly=”” span=”” that=”” the=”” was=””>₦ 634112.80) than the mean annual income of the non-beneficiaries (₦ 498,955.70) by ₦ 135,157.10. (z=2.281; P<0 .05=”” a=”” access=”” adopted=”” age=”” amount=”” analysis=”” and=”” association=”” beneficiaries=”” contact=”” cooperative=”” credit=”” crop=”” found=”” from=”” had=”” household=”” impact=”” imply=”” in=”” income=”” influence=”” inputs=”” multiple=”” naerls=”” of=”” on=”” output=”” participation=”” project.=”” project=”” r=”” regression=”” results=”” reveals=”” significant=”” significantly=”” size=”” span=”” staff=”” t=”4.31;P<0.01)” that=”” the=”” this=”” to=”” village=”” were=”” with=””>-2value of 0.609. This imply that the above mentioned independent variables collectively contributes about 61% of the variation in the participation of the beneficiaries. Poor market was mentioned as part of the constraints faced by beneficiaries of the Project in the study area but limited land was ranked 1st. It is recommended that the Land Use Act of 1990 should be reviewed to facilitate access to land by landless peasantry who produce the bulk of agricultural produce. Farmers should also form a production clusters to improve their market accessibility in groups. In each group, there should be an advisory committee trained by specialist in various aspects of marketing to enable them have access to up-dated pricing information and make it available to farmers on time. Storage and processing facilities should be made available to farmers by stakeholders so as to avoid food wastage and to enhance value chain of products. High cost of agricultural product could be reduced through provision of good and accessible roads by stakeholders which will in-turn cause a reduction in high cost of transportation.

Poverty is acknowledged to be largely a rural phenomenon where agriculture is the predominant occupation (Adeolu et al., 2014). Agriculture has been an important sector in the Nigerian economy, It accounts for the highest employer of labour, provision of food, eradicating poverty and contributing to the overall growth of the economy, However, the sector is characterized by low yields, low level of inputs, limited land area under cultivation and traditional production tools capable of generating very little income for the farmers (Izuchukwu, 2011). In the early 1960s to 1980s, Nigeria was largely self-sufficient in food production, Agriculture contributed about 42% of the Gross Domestic product (GDP), employing over 65% of the labour force in Nigeria (Emeka, 2017). However, there has been a gradual decline in agriculture’s contributions to the nation’s economy. For instance, the index per capita food production, which was 150 in year 2010/2011 was only 120 in year 2012/2013 (Manyong et al.,2005). The major reason for this was largely due to poor extension services. Presently, less than 50% of the Nigeria’s cultivable land is under cultivation and are cultivated by subsistent smallholder farmers, cropping about 1-2 hectares under a traditional system characterized by low yield (Olajide et al.,2012).