Farmers’ Interaction, Perception, and Accessibility to Public Agricultural Extension Services in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined farmers’ interaction, perception, and accessibility to Public Agricultural Extension Services (PAES) in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study assessed the extent of farmers’ interaction with extension agents, examined their perceptions of extension service delivery, and evaluated their level of accessibility to these services. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 625 farmers, comprising 281 beneficiaries and 344 non-beneficiaries. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, an interaction index, and Likert scale techniques. The socio-economic results showed that beneficiaries were slightly male-dominated, had a mean age of 45.2 years, average household size of 8 persons, mean farming experience of 24 years, and larger farm size of 5.5 ha compared to non-beneficiaries. Beneficiaries also recorded substantially higher mean farm income (₦301,420) than non-beneficiaries (₦81,635), with higher participation in cooperatives and access to credit. The interaction results revealed that 52.0% of farmers had moderate interaction with extension agents, 29.5% had high interaction, while 18.5% had low interaction, indicating moderate engagement. Farmers’ perceptions were generally positive, with a grand mean score of 3.78, reflecting effectiveness in timely information delivery, productivity improvement, and input linkage. However, gaps were identified in follow-up services, accessibility, inclusiveness, and ICT use. The study concludes that although PAES improves farmers’ productivity and livelihoods, its effectiveness is constrained by moderate interaction levels, unequal access, and limited inclusiveness. Strengthening extension capacity, promoting gender-sensitive approaches, and expanding ICT-based advisory services are recommended to enhance performance.