Analysis of Effectiveness of Agricultural Extension Service in among Rural Women: Case study of Odeda Local Government, Ogun State, Nigeria

The study was aimed at determining agricultural extension service in among rural Women, using Odeda local government area of Ogun State as a case study. A sample size of 180 women farmers was initially taken for the study but only data for 160 respondents were analyzed. Simple random sampling technique was used for the sample selection and questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The findings of this study confirm that women farmers are not a homogeneous group. Despite their valuable contribution in agricultural production, women do not have easy access to agricultural resources, such as the required amount of cultivable land, title of land ownership, improved farm implements. It was also observed that real problems and needs for agricultural advice are not considered on a gender basis when planning and preparing extension packages in the agricultural services. Lack of address of women farmers explicitly as an important clientele group in respective extension programmed activities, the required amount of demonstration materials and equipment for the extension service, lack of appropriate training of field extension agents in extension methodology to serve women farmers and inadequate extension/research linkages are the most important factors which need to be improved to make agricultural extension activities effective in reaching women farmers. It is recommended that Government should encourage and assist women farmers by giving them special attention in terms of access to needed farm inputs.