The Perceptions of Irish Potato Producers and Agricultural Extension Staff Concerning Mutual Working Relationship in the Mwaghavul Chiefdom, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

A total of 70 questionnaires were developed and used for the collection of data from the seven districts of the Mwaghavul land. Seven other questionnaires were specifically developed and used for the Agricultural Extension staff serving in the same area. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. The result reveals that most of farmers were males and age 35 years old and above, and were mostly illiterate. The ages of Agricultural Extension staff range between 26-34, as indicated by 71.67 percent of the agents' respondents. The Extension staff have not attained a high level of training for their job performance. Since the Agricultural Extension staff percent indicated that farmers were skilled and all agreed that farmers responses to their visits were "friendly," it was concluded that farmers are ready to work hand in hand with the Extension staff. All farmers showed they had problems requiring the Extension staff to help. It was, therefore, concluded that the farmers feel it is "important" to have help from the Extension staff. A specific area of concern by the potato producers was "watering during dry season gardening," since 92.31 percent of the farmers indicated they need help in this area.