Comparative Study of the Socioeconomic Characteristics and Digital Literacy Level of Agricultural Extension Personnel in Imo and Ebonyi States, South-East, Nigeria

The study comparatively analysed the socioeconomic characteristics and digital literacy level of Agricultural Extension personnel (AEP) in Ebonyi and Imo States, South-East, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of agricultural extension personnel in Ebonyi and Imo States, and to ascertain the digital literacy level of AEP in the studied states. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 312 Agricultural Extension personnel (132 from Ebonyi State Agricultural Development Program and 180 from Imo State Agricultural Development Program) for the study. Data were collected through the use of validated and structured questionnaire, and administered through the help of well-trained enumerators. Data were analysed using simple descriptive statistical tools such as percentages mean score, standard deviation and weighted mean. Findings indicated that they were more male in the both States (55.3% and 57.8%) for Ebonyi and Imo State respectively and that the average age of AEP in Ebonyi and Imo States were 44.7 years and 49.2 years respectively. It was further revealed that the majority (77.3% and 82.8%) had B.Sc./HND as their highest academic qualifications, belonged to professional organisations (62.1% and 75%), and were earning an average monthly income of N58,798 and N62,648 for Ebonyi and Imo State respectively. Also, it was revealed that their mean years of service were 12.4 years and 13.4 years for Ebonyi and Imo State respectively. Almost all of them (87.9% and 95.0%) own a smartphone, had access to the internet (80.3% and 90.0%), but do not own a laptop/ipad (82.6% and 72.8%) for Ebon-yi and Imo State respectively. Results further revealed that Agricultural extension personnel in both Ebonyi and Imo State respectively had low digital literacy level ( = 2.41 and 2.32). The study concluded that AEP in Ebonyi and Imo State respectively had similar socioeconomic characteristics and low level of digital literacy. The study recommended that the management of ADPs in both Ebonyi and Imo State should ensure the training of AEP in digital skills to enhance their digital literacy level to enable them use digital technologies in their work.

Present Situation of Rural Regional Development and Agricultural Extension Policy

The formulation of agricultural extension policy and the development of rural regional economy present the relationship of mutual existence,mutual influence and mutual promotion.Therefore,it is necessary to study the agricultural extension policy according to the current situation of rural regional development.Agricultural technology extension system is an organization set up at county and township levels to provide farmers with scientific research achievements and practical technical services on planting,animal husbandry,fishery,forestry,agricultural machinery and water conservancy,and it is an important carrier for implementing the strategy of developing agriculture through science and technology.On the basis of expounding the value and significance of rural regional economic development,this paper analyzes the problems existing in China s rural regional development from the aspects of rural infrastructure and public services,rural labor force s cultural and scientific level,rural grass-roots extension system,etc.,and puts forward corresponding measures against the problems.This study has certain theoretical reference value for promoting the all-round development of China s rural economy and realizing the great strategy of rural revitalization in China.

Demonstration and Radiation Extension mode of Agricultural Technology——A Case of the Science and Technology Project of High Yield in Hebei Province

Firstly,relying on the science and technology project of high yield in Hebei Province,connotation of agricultural technology demonstration and extension mode and the high yield grain project in Hebei Province is introduced.Extension mode of agricultural technology demonstration and radiation is constructed.Agricultural technology demonstration and radiation mode includes the radiation center,primary irradiation and secondary irradiation.Secondly,management system and operational mechanism of agricultural technology demonstration and radiation mode are discussed,mainly expressed in establishing leading group in each demonstration county(city),carrying out leader contract responsibility system,establishing expert advisor steering group and setting up core experts group for subject,establishing technical experts group for subject,setting up leading group in the radiation area,carrying out chief expert responsibility system and technician matrix responsibility system,establishing the operating mechanism of "open,flow,competition and collaboration" with "test area-expert two-way selection" as the core content.Finally,countermeasures to improve the agricultural technology demonstration and radiation mode is put forward,such as establishing the rural technology demonstration base,strengthening cooperation with enterprises,and adopting flexible technical training,so as to promote the spread of agricultural high-tech,to increase the contribution rate of agricultural technology,and to offer ideas for agricultural technology extension model at the new era.

Literature Review of Agricultural Technology Extension

Agriculture,as the primary industry,is the foundation of national economy.Agricultural development directly influences political,economic,and cultural construction of a state.Agricultural technology is a key factor restricting agricultural development.How to implement the agricultural technology innovation,agricultural technology extension becomes particularly important.In this literature review,current situation of agricultural technology extension was elaborated.Besides,current research situation and fields of agricultural technology extension were discussed.In the literature collected,researches about agricultural technology extension mainly included following three aspects:(i)theories of agricultural technology extension;(ii)agricultural technology extension system;(iii)behavior and effects of agricultural technology extension.On the basis of research results of literature,prediction was made for the agricultural technology extension and policy recommendations were put forward for agricultural technology extension works.

Stakeholders’ Participation in Agricultural Farmers’ Extension Services Programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case of the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) Programme in Uganda

The paper presents findings from a study carried out to assess the contribution of stakeholders’participation on the performance of the national agricultural farmers’extension services programme in Uganda known as Operation Wealth Creation(OWEC).Specifically,the study sought to establish how participatory planning,budgeting,monitoring and evaluation(M&E)respectively contributed to the performance of OWC in selected district in central Uganda.The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design using both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques and employed both questionnaires and interview guides on key participants in the programme.Findings of the study indicated positive relationships between stakeholders’participation and programme performance with participatory planning,budgeting and M&E all having positive significant effects on the performance of OWC programme.The study concluded that indeed stakeholders’participation contributed to improved performance of the OWC programme.The study recommends increased funding and M&E of the agricultural extension programmes for improved performance.

Dryland agriculture and rangeland restoration priorities in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is threatened by rangeland degradation.A quantitative visual analysis of Google Earth Imagery was used to systematically locate,characterize and quantify the current extent of rangelands in Afghanistan degraded as a consequence of dryland agriculture.Climate data were used in conjunction with dryland agriculture locations to establish a climate envelope comprised by temperature and mean annual precipitation to create a geographical mask known to contain dryland agriculture.Within this mask we created a grid of 100 km2 cells that we analyzed individually to access dryland agriculture extent.Climatic limits to sustainable dryland agriculture and areas of high restoration priority were also assessed as was the distribution of rain-fed agriculture with respect to the location of traditional migration routes for extensive livestock producers.The extents of agriculture in Afghanistan,at both upper and lower elevations,correlated most closely with mean annual temperature（MAT） at the upper elevation limits,and with mean annual precipitation（MAP） at the lower elevation limits.In total,dryland agriculture comprised 38,980 km2 of former native rangeland.Conversion was highest in the northwestern,northern and northeastern provinces of Herat,Badghis,Faryab,Jawzjan,Sar-e-Pul,Samangan,Balkh,Baghlan,Kunduz,Takhar and Badakhshan,with the highest percentage of conversion occurring in Takhar.An MAP value of 〈400 mm is perceived by farmers as the current climatic limit to sustainable dryland agriculture across the northern regions of the country.Uder this MAP value,approximately 27,677 km2 of converted rangeland met the need for restoration priority.Climate projections indicate that Afghanistan will become warmer and drier in the coming decades.One consequence of this trend is that the MAP threshold of 〈400 mm to sustainable dryland agriculture will become obsolete in the coming decades.Restoration of currently converted rangelands is needed to restore critical grazing areas as is the adoption of prudent range management policies to prevent further land degradation and support a vital livestock industry.Food security is at stake as the conversion of rangelands to unsustainable rain-fed agriculture may leave large tracks of land unusable for either agriculture or livestock production.

CHALLENGES AND CAPACITY GAPS IN SMALLHOLDER ACCESS TO DIGITAL EXTENSION AND ADVISORY SERVICES IN KENYA AND UGANDA

An assessment of the challenges and capacity gaps in smallholder access to digital extension and advisory services(EAS)was made by surveying 197 female and 239 male farmers in Kenya and Uganda.Non-digital extension approaches remain dominant but at least 78%of farmers accessed EAS from electronic sources dominated by radio.This is attributed to the fact that ownership of radios was more widespread than of other digital devices.Challenges that particularly limit the use of digital services included low digital literacy and prohibitive cost of internet and mobile devices.Female and elderly farmers were more likely to report these challenges than their counterparts.Logistic regression model results show that ownership of digital devices,participation in post-production activities,and access to extension were enablers of digital EAS use.Farmers mentioned gaps in obtaining information on crop pest/disease diagnosis and management,fertilizer application,pesticide safety and quality seed.Given the diversity in smallholder technological capabilities and information needs,the recommendations made include integration of digital communication within multimode advisory services that use different but linked communication channels,continued farmer digital innovation capacity enhancement,and participatory design approaches that deliver relevant and actionable information for inclusive scaling of extension activities.