The Impact of Agricultural Extension Agents on Urban Gardening Practices in Confined Spaces and Focusing on Vegetable Crop Cultivation in Growth Media in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to ascertain the efficiency of agricultural extension agents in alleviating poverty through crop production for those who are living in confined and floored compounds at the urban areas. Two local government areas used which include Ika south comprises of two major clans and Ika North nine clans. Ten urban areas were randomly selected for this research, five from Ika south and five from Ika North local government area. These include Boji boji Agbor town, Agbor Obi, Alihame, Emuhu and Aliokpu, while those from Ika North were Boji Boji Owa town, Ute Okpu, Owa Alero, Owa Oyibu and Owanta community. Two hundred and fifty respondents which include males and females. Questionnaires were formulated to gather data for this research from the respondents, this was divided into two sections A and B. The section A was to get their personal data, while section B with items that tends to find out from the respondents their relationship with the extension agents. The result showed that most people who were engage in this farming were mostly females, who are civil servants, married or widows. It also revealed that these people were not visited by the extension agents, not encouraged to grow crops on growth media or formed agricultural society. It is therefore, recommended that government should make it mandatory for extension agents to visit people in their respective homes and encourage them to grow crops in their confined and floored environment.