One of the basic principles of agricultural extension is that extension is for
all persons irrespective of age, gender, status, race and so on. Among the
individuals here are both female agents and women farmers who also need
and disseminate proven agricultural information and advice. This study
was carried out to examine the factors influencing job-performance of
female extension agents in Owerri-West and North Areas of Imo State,
Nigeria. Data were obtained from 80 female extension personnel, made up
of 50 female agents and 30 women in agriculture participants who serve
as contact farmers due to the limited number of female agents. Data
collected were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentage and mean
presented in tabular form. Majority (31.3%) are within the prime age of
36-41 years, with 27.5% having Bsc degree. They specialized in crop,
animals, agric. extension and economics as well as home economics. They
are involved in regular and systematic visits to villages and farms,
developing rapport with farmers, solving farmers agric/farm problems,
providing advisory services, monitoring/evaluating extension programs,
keeping records and providing feed back to both farmers and research
stations. In performance of the job as agents they are constrained by lack
of education on the part of clientele, time, cash/income, beliefs and customs,
slowness in adoption, social structure, farming system, lack of ability to
take risk on the part of the clients among other factors. The female agents
are constrained by family problems, health condition, social barriers,
inadequate training and so on. Institutional factors as inadequate
methodology, poor transportation network, non-payment of salaries,
delays in promotion and payments, evaluation problems, corruption, lack
of working materials among others hinder female agents job performance.
To improve upon the above, farmers be sensitized regularly on programs
and packages, salaries of agents increased, methodology be adjusted, and
regular training and re-training be carried out for staff in form of seminars
and workshops.