Agricultural Extension and the Challenges of Insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

The adoption of improved farming systems and techniques remain relevant as they impact positively on Nigeria’s agricultural landscape. Agricultural extension activities yield notable dividends for the farmers and the nation at large. Insecurity has however become a threat to agricultural extension services in Nigeria. This paper therefore investigates agricultural extension and the challenges of insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. The study adopts descriptive survey research design. The population was made up of 201 staff of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria. The sample size of 103 staff was used for the study, using purposive sampling technique. Eleven items structured questionnaire titled “Agricultural Extension and Challenges of Insecurity (AECI) Questionnaire” was used as instrument for data collection. Content validity was used. Test-retest method of reliability was used to obtain the internal consistency. The reliability index was obtained through Cronbach’s alpha (0.78). Out of the 103 questionnaires administered, 97 were returned valid, representing 94% success rate. The analyses of data were carried out based on the specific objectives and research questions of the study. Data collected was imputed into the SPSS (25) software package where descriptive statistics (percentage) and graphs were used for data analysis. The study revealed that agricultural extension service in the Federal Capital Territory is confronted with major security challenges which are kidnapping and banditry as well as insurgency. It is recommended that E-extension services (television and radio broadcast, mobile phone sms, internet etc) establishment of grazing site around the forests and aerial surveillance by security agents will serve as better measures to solving the security challenges confronting agricultural extension workers.