Journal of
Agricultural Extension and Rural Development

  • Abbreviation: J. Agric. Ext. Rural Dev
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2170
  • DOI: 10.5897/JAERD
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 489

Full Length Research Paper

Training needs assessment of mid-career agricultural extension officers: Evidences from Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension education (SAFE) intervention in North-east Nigeria

M. R. Ja’afar-Furo1*, J. S. Neils2, D. I. Mojaba2, A. Sulaiman3 and J. D. Shall4
1Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Adamawa State University, P. M. B. 25, Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria. 2Department of Animal Production, Adamawa State University, P. M. B. 25, Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria. 3Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme, Bauchi, Nigeria. 4Department of Crop Science, University of Maiduguri, P. M. B. 1069, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 28 May 2012
  •  Published: 31 October 2012

Abstract

The primary objective of this paper is to assess the stakeholders’ needs for mid-career agricultural extension training programmes in North-east Nigeria taking cognizance of the Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension education (SAFE) intervention in the region and beyond. The major source of data was a survey of agriculture-related private and public agricultural extension organisations in the six states that constitute the geo-political zone, using structured questionnaire. Although, empirical results indicated that majority of the organisations preferred full-time/regular training of their agricultural extension staff and minority of the institutions showed interest in the part-time and short duration programmes for reasons of shortage of staff and financial constraints, many staff still require further training in these organisations. The implications of these for the implementation of the programmes in Adamawa State University, Mubi and North-east Nigeria are explored.

 

Key words: Agricultural-extension, mid-career, programmes, training needs.