Resumen

OLORUNFEMI, T. O. et al. Competency Needs Of Extension Agents On Value Added Fish Production: Evidence From Kwara State, Nigeria. S Afr. Jnl. Agric. Ext. [online]. 2019, vol.47, n.4, pp.86-95. ISSN 2413-3221.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2019/v47n4a528.

The need to develop the technical expertise and skills of extension agents on value added fish production in order to ensure that they are properly equipped to meet the changing needs of their clientele led to this study. The paper analysed the competency needs of extension agents on value addedfish production in Kwara State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the total population (total population sampling) of extension agents in Kwara State Agricultural Development Programme (KWADP) due to the relatively small number of extension agents in the organisation. The results showed that the extension agents had a mean age of 40.3 years. The majority of the respondents (72.3%) were male, married (88.2%), with an average household size offive persons. Most of the extension agents (75.6%) had ordinary National Diploma certificates and above in their level of education with an average of eight years' experience in the extension profession. Competency upgrade (training) was needed in 10 areas of value added fish production skills and knowledge and the respondents highlighted seven severe constraints militating against their acquisition of needed competencies in value added fish production. Chi-square analysis revealed that respondents' areas of competency needs in value addedfish production were influenced by their age, gender, level of education, and years of experience. The study acknowledges that there is a need for the KWADP to develop robust training programmes for extension agents on value added fish production skills in order to enhance their competence in rendering information and advisory services to farmers for a more profitable regime for fish farmers in the study area.

Palabras clave : Competency needs; Extension agents; Fish production; Value addition.

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