ROLES OF EXTENSION SERVICES IN PROMOTING CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE IN ONA-ARA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE

Abstract

This study therefore examined the role of extension agent in promoting climate smart agriculture in Ona-ara Local Government Oyo State. Specifically, the study examined the roles of extension services in promoting climate smart agriculture, various climate smart agriculture available to the respondents, factors influencing the use of climate smart agriculture and constraints faced in promoting climate smart agriculture. Multistage sampling techniques was used to select 90 respondents in the study area. Data was collected using interview schedule. Descriptive analytical tools such as frequency counts, percentage were used to analyze the data results. Majority Cover crops and intercropping was the highest available climate smart agricultural practices with a percentage of 87.8%. Extension services aid the access to financial resources was ranked first (1st) as the major role of extension service in promoting climate smart agriculture with weighted mean score (WMS) of 3.2. Infrastructural facilities such as storage and processing facilities was the highest factor influencing the use of climate smart activity with a percentage of 87.8%. Inadequate government support was ranked first as the major constraints to the use of climate smart agriculture with the weighted mean score (WMS) of 3.0. Access to infrastructural facilities such as storage and processing facilities was the highest factor influencing the use of climate smart agriculture, inadequate government support, poor extension system/service and restricted access to climate smart agricultural practices were the major constraints faced by the respondents to the use of climate smart agriculture. Socio-economic variables such as age, marital status, years spent in school and sex have decisive influence on the roles of extension services in promoting climate smart agricultural practices among farmers.