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The study assessed demand-driven agricultural extension curricula by alumni from universities in Nigeria partnering with Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE) on such curriculum for at least seven years. Using a cross-sectional research design and cluster sampling technique, 227 alumni were randomly selected from a population of 520. Data were collected through structured questionnaire on socio-economic characteristics, mode of study, areas of specialization operationalized as close-ended questions and rating of programme components on a 5 -point Likert type scale of poor (1) fair (2) good (3) very good (4) excellent (5) with 70 items. Data entry and analysis were done with SPSS 25 using percentages, mean score and multiple regression analysis. Adult education approaches, supervised enterprise projects, students’ supervision, academic advice, information sharing, and participation in research projects had highest positive rating; while fund raising, scholarship, opportunity for enrolling and be part of a professional scientific network, linkage & involvement with Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) field activities, laboratories and variety of subjects offered had highest negative rating. Socio-economic characteristics of alumni were significantly correlated and explained 49 percent of the variation in programme rating. The study recommends that there is need to review the curricula covered in this study and mechanisms for compliance with the Sasakawa methodology should be reinvigorated. Keywords: alumni, demand-driven, agricultural extension, university curricula.

This study analysed the perceived effects of professionalization of extension services by extension agents in South West Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from three hundred and one (301) public agents and fifty-five (55) private agents that were selected through a stratified random sampling procedure. The public and private agents had basic knowledge about the concept of professionalization and exhibited a favourable attitude towards professionalizing extension services. There were significant differences in the years of experience (t = 5.35, P ≤ 0.01), farmers group covered (t = -14.09, P ≤ 0.01) and distance to clients travelled (t = - 7.65, P ≤ 0.01) by the public and private agents. Extension agents in both organizations had a positive perception of the effects of professionalization of extension services in enhancing and improving delivery. Extension agents’ knowledge (t = 5.303), attitude (t = 12.733), years of experience (t = 2.758), educational qualification (t = 2.037) and rural-urban background (t = 2.061) were significant determinants of their perceived effects of professionalization on service delivery. Extension agencies should support continuous professional development of extension agents through trainings and acquisition of relevant higher degrees that will help to enhance their knowledge thus upgrading their professionalization-readiness status. Keywords: Extension agents, extension service, perceived effects, professionalization.

The paper examined demand-driven agricultural extension education in Nigeria and emphasized the need for extension professionals to acquire soft skills in addition to their technical capabilities through the utilization of demand-driven extension education (DDEE) strategies. A review of demand-driven agricultural extension education in Nigeria as introduced by Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education in universities was carried out to assess the concepts of demand-driven extension education, capacity development, skill, skill- mismatch. The reviews were analysed using themes and the findings were reported based on the themes identified from the review analysis. Job matching and human capital theories are the theoretical underpinning for this paper. The paper further highlighted the numerous benefits of DDEE prominent among which include its ability to adapt to the need of the learners and employers, utilize dynamic work-based pedagogy to improve competencies, and respond to the needs of the labour markets to ensure continuous alignment between desired qualification and available training. It is important to properly mainstream the use of demand-driven extension education strategies in training extension personnel for better and more sustainable extension and services delivery to farmers. Keywords: Agricultural extension, agricultural education, demand-driven extension education, capacity development, skill, skill- mismatch

This study assessed the effects of Psaltry cassava Out-grower scheme in enhancing smallholder productivity in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State. Pre- and post-intervention combined with treatment and control group designs were used. Data were collected from 232 Out-grower and 49 non- Out-grower farmers using interview schedules. Data were analysed using percentages, ttest and regression analysis. Assured markets (90.5%) and training on postharvest handling of crops (69.9%) were the most common supports received from Psaltry. Long bureaucracy involved in documentation (x̄ =2.23) was the most severe constraint faced in the scheme. Total cassava harvested and productivity among Out-growers increased from 30,950.89±31,133.48kg to 106,116.88±96,926.01kg and 5,649.2±3835.3kg/Acre to 9,143.6±8799.1 kg/Acre before and after participating in Psaltry scheme, respectively. A significant difference existed between the productivity of Out-growers and non- Out-growers (t=7.256; p≤0.05). Membership of group (β=0.319) and length of involvement in the Psaltry scheme (β=0.157) positively and significantly influenced Out-growers’ cassava productivity. The Psaltry Outgrower scheme had stimulated beneficiary’s smallholder farmers towards higher productivity. A scale-up of the Psaltry model has prospects for transforming smallholder farmers to commercial producers. Keywords: Out-grower scheme, cassava farmers, market linkage, smallholderfarmers, psaltry scheme

This study examined the knowledge level of extension agents on six classes of climate smart adaptation initiatives (CSAI). A multi-stage sampling procedure was utilized to collect data from 277 agents in South-West Nigeria with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Data were descriptively analysed using frequency counts, percentages and means. The result showed that extension agents were knowledgeable on crop-mix (56.3%) and tillage-smart (53.4%) related initiatives with more than half of them scoring above the mean benchmark. However, they had a low knowledge level on the majority of the water management (59.2%), fossil-burning (94.2%), soil (75.8%), ICT and other adaptive initiatives (98.9%) as the majority of them scored below the mean benchmark for each of these categories. Seminars and workshops should be provided by extension organizations for these agents to upgrade their knowledge on these initiatives, thus positioning them to effectively be able to render needed advisories to farmers. This will equip farmers to be adept in responding adequately to managing climate change risks and also scale-up their use of CSAI.

The study assessed the use of ICTs among public and private extension officers in Lesotho. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 86 public and 19 private extension officers. Data collected were analysed, using percentages, mean, and standard deviation, multiple regressions and t-test. Extension officers use ICT tools to obtain information on new technology (79.1%), preservation of farm produce (79.1%); time of planting crops (75.6%), call attention of extension officers (75.6%) and cultural practices (75.6%). Serious constraints to the use of ICTs, as perceived by extension officers were: high cost of ICT (83.7%); poor basic infrastructure (79.1%); non-availability of technical personnel (72.1%), failure of service (73.7%) and non-availability of genuine parts. There is a strong relationship between access to information, residing within place of work, constraints, age awareness, type of extension and use of ICTs. There is also a significance differences in the use of ICTs between public and private extension officers. Policy makers should improve national e-readiness and make more ICT tools available and accessible to extension officers. Constraints of high cost, lack of ICT infrastructure and training of technical personnel should be dealt with. Keywords : Use of ICTs, public extension, private extension, Lesotho

This study assesses the economics of quail production in Ilorin, Kwara state. Structured questionnaires were used to elicit information from 56 farmers that were selected with the use of a snow-ball sampling technique. Major tools of analysis for the study included descriptive statistic, gross margin analysis, Stochastic Production Frontier Model and 4 points Likert-type. The results of the findings revealed that both male and female are actively involved in the production i.e. 54.7% and 45.3% respectively with about 83% of the respondents in their active age range of 31-50 years and 66% have tertiary education. Also, results from the gross margin analysis show that an average farmer incurred a sum of ₦212,850 on variable costs with feed carrying the highest percentage (73%) and had an average net profit of ₦172,830. Feed, stock size, experience and farmer’s educational level are statistically significant to the production efficiency at different levels of probability as shown by the stochastic frontier result and farmers have a mean technical efficiency of 60.53%. The research therefore recommended that efforts should be made to reduce production cost through reduction in feed cost via establishment of more feed mills which are to be monitored by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) to maintain standard.