How Farmers Are Involved in Agricultural Extension Programme Planning in Ondo State Adp Essay

HOW FARMERS ARE INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PROGRAMME PLANNING IN ONDO STATE ADP. The Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs) were first launched as viable projects in 1972 only two years after the end of civil war, when Nigeria was facing its first food and fibre shock. It started in Northern Nigerian towns of Gombe and Gusau with two pilot projects assisted by the World Bank. The projects were to be funded under a tripartite agreement involving World Bank 66%, Federal government 20% and State government 14% in addition to payments of salaries of local staff. The two main objectives of the ADPs were to increase food production, and to raise the income of small-scale farmers. The ondo state ADP was created after the success of the three (3) pilot projects in 1975 covering an LGA in 3 States. The success of the pilot schemes lead to expansion to other LGAs and States (Ondo state inclusive) in the late 70s and by 1989, all the states of the Federation were implementing the integrated approach. The Ondo state ADP is the implementation organ of the state ministry of agriculture. Ondo State Agricultural Development Project (ODSADEP) is an institution structurally divided into two Zones, four sub-Zones, and eighteen Blocks/LGAs containing 162 cells/circles. The achievable number of farm families (FF) stood at 180,000 with EA: FF ratio of 1:1782.(ODSADEP, 2012) I. ADP ZONES: ZONE I (Northern part – covers 8 Local Governments) ZONE II (Southern part – covers 10 Local Governments) The order of hierrachy in the ODSADEP starts with The Project Manager of ADP, Mr Idowu Olabode,followed by Directors of each department, Deputy Directors, Zonal Extension officers,Area Zonal Extension Officers,Zonal WIA, Block extension supervisor, Block extension Agents, Extension agents, Radio/TV officers, audio visual technican, photographer, etc. SOME OF THE EXTENSION TRAINING PROGRAMMES CARRIED OUT BY THE ODSADEP IN THE YEAR 2012. Title | Organizers| Categories ofTrainees| Date| No. ofTrainees| Collaborators| Orientation/Review Training on FFS| ADP| Extension staffs| 23rd-24thApril, 2012| 27| FGN & AfDB| Training of Farmers ledfacilitators on FFS| ADP| Farmers | 18th-19thJuly, 2012| 34| FGN & AfDB| NPFS Women Training| ADP| Women farmers| 21st-24thAug., 2012| 268| FGN & AfDB| Sensitization of WomenFarmers Group on integratedfarming.| ADP| Womenfarmers| 26th Apr-24thMay, 2012| 1,602|Â  Ondo State Government| Demand Driven CourseTraining (NPFS)| ADP| Farmers | 14th-26thJune, 2012 | 201| FGN & AfDB| Establishment andManagement of HomeGarden Training (NPFS)| ADP| Farmers | 17th-27thJuly, 2012| 186| FGN & AfDB| (source: OSADEP, 2012) ILLUSTRATION OF HOW A SUCCESSFUL AGRIC EXTENSION PROGRAMME PLANNING IS CARRIED BY ODSADEP FOR FARMERS PROGRAMME: Farmers Training on Food Security in Bolorunduro in Ondo West Local Government Area. Writing and implementing an extension program requires planning. Extension program planning involves a process of selecting the best course of action to accomplish an objective. It deals with an individual extension worker’s decision. The precise patterns vary considerably as situations differ from one another, however, the following steps in planning should be taken into consideration: Collection of facts: . This includes facts about the village people of Bolorunduro in Ondo West Local Government Area, Ondo State. Their physical conditions, existing farm & home practices, trends & outlook. Besides, other facts about their customs, traditions, rural institutions, peoples’ organisations operating in the area, etc. should be collected. 2. Analysis of the situation – After collecting facts, they are analysed & interpreted to find out the problems & needs of the people. 3. Identification of problems- As a result of the analysis of facts the important gaps between ‘what is’ & ‘what should be’ are identified & the problems leading to such a situation are located. These gaps represent the people’s needs which is food insecurity. 4. Determination of objectives- the aim of the training was to train farmers’ groups on how to utilise the knowledge and skills which they will acquire during the training in efforts to achieve food security. to train farmers in all aspects of farming and food production, farm management and to keep the farmers’ groups alive to enable them to have some joint benefits in the project. 5. Developing the plan of work – the calendar of activities is developed Operation| Teaching objective| Teaching methods| Time table| Staff to do the job| Training on food security| 1. to train farmers in all aspects of farming and food production, farm management andto keep the farmers’ groups alive |Â  LectureVisual aids| 12th-15th April, 2012| Extension agents| 6. Execution of the plan of work – arrangement for supplying the necessary inputs, teaching aids, extension literature etc. Was being made available & the specific action was initiated. 7. Evaluation – here, measurement of the degree of success of the programme in terms of the objectives & goals are set forth. This is basically done to determine the changes in the behaviour of the people as a result of the extension programme. The evaluation is done not only of the physical achievements but also of the methods & techniques used & of the other steps in the programme-planning process, so that the strong & weak points may be identified & necessary changes made. 8. Reconsideration – The systematic & periodic evaluation of the programme will reveal the weak & strong points of the programme. Based on these points the programme is reconsidered & the necessary adjustments & changes are made in order to make it more meaningful & sound. References Ondo State Agricultural Development Programme (2012): ondo state agricultural development programme Akure, national agricultural extension review and planning Meeting report for year 2012