INFLUENCE OF CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING BY AGRICULTURAL MEDIA RESOURCES AND EXTENSION CENTRE (AMREC) ON RURAL FARMERS’ LIVELIHOODS IN ODEDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OGUN STATE

Abstract

The role of extension service providers as practical problem-solving organizations in rural settings is targeted at poverty reduction, various mechanisms including capacity building training is adopted in achieving this. Purposive selection of hundred and twelve (112) beneficiaries from 14 communities was made. The mean age of respondents is 39years. The household size is 6persons and the farm size is 2.3hectares. Farming experience is 8years and the average yield is 184.6kg, average annual income after the training is N15, 732.00k. 62.5% and 37.5% of farmers respectively benefitted from crop and livestock training and also have access to hybrid stems and seeds.  Results indicates positive relationship between farm size (r = 0.397, p = 0.001), farm yield (r = 0.555, p = 0.004) and farmers income (r = 0.808, p = 0.002), farmers’ sex, (χ2 =10.63, df = 1, P > 0.05) and the purpose of attending the training (χ2 =11.67, df = 4, P > 0.05). The mean score of farmers’ response on perception about the benefits of capacity building training on their livelihoods is 3.66. 95.5% and 80.4% strongly agreed that the training has assisted in poverty reduction and that it is a developmental issue targeted at building human resources.