Prospects of Involving Grassroots Organizations in Agricultural Extension Program
I. O. Uddin *
Department of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
J. M. Chah
Department of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The function of extension is to transfer and nurture pool of knowledge within the rural industry. Thus extension embraces all those who contribute knowledge or transfer it to farmers. This paper sought to explore the prospects of involving grassroots organizations in agricultural extension program. Inductive and deductive reasoning through review of relevant literature was used in this paper. In terms of function, grassroots organizations in a community are expected to contribute their quota, be it moral, financial, physical, to the social progress and economic advancement of the community. Grassroots organizations have significant and tremendous roles to play in modern extension operation that is farmer-centred. The promotion of a wide range of organizations at the grassroots level has gone a long way to link both rural and urban people with development activities. The paper concluded that involvement of grassroots organization in extension services no doubt, will enhance social acceptability of extension programs, greater confidence on the part of the rural organizations in extension workers and overall effectiveness in achieving the desired goals of extension service.
Keywords: Grassroots, organization, agricultural extension and prospects.