Role Perception and Performance of Agricultural Extension Agents in Maize Marketing in Delta State Nigeria

Abstract

The rural small scale farmers have remained poor in spite of the fact that they produce the bulk of food consumed in the country. The study was designed, therefore, to investigate the role of the extension agents on maize marketing as an antidote to boosting the farmers income Fifty percent (50%) of the extension agents attached to the Delta Agricultural Development Project were randomly selected to compose the sample. Based on the affirmative responses, it was concluded that the extension agents did not perform their functions well in terms of advising the farmers about available markets for maize (10.00%), grading (4.00%), advise on transportation (10.00%), packaging (14.00%), advise on resource use efficiency (2.00%) planning and market promotion (2.00%), and sales timing (2.00%). There was a significant difference between the extension agents role perception and role performance in advisory services on available markets ( t =3.348; p = 0.002), grading ( t =3.280; p = 0.002), price information ( t = 3.934; p = 0.000), advise on transportation ( t = 3.500; p = 0.001), improved maize cultural practices ( t = 3.718; p = 0.001), record keeping ( t = 4.583; p = 0.000), and storage technologies  ( t = 5.250; p = 0.000). The extension agents should intensify efforts in carrying out their marketing functions to enable maize farmers derive the utmost incentives from their production endeavour.

Keywords: Maize Marketing Extension Agents, Extension Marketing, Role Perception, Role Performance.