Ogunlade , Atibioke O.A, Ladele A.A. and Adumadehin G. S.
This paper addressed the capacity of Agro-input dealers in advisory service delivery to maize crop farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Specifically, it examined the personal characteristics of the agro-input dealers, determined the extension related activities of the dealers, and investigated the technical capacity of input dealers in maize production. This study was carried out in Kwara State, because of its prominence in the production of maize in Nigeria. A total of 50 agro-inputs dealers were sampled from Ilorin, Omu-Aran and Offa through snow ball technique. The dependent variable for the study was technical capacity of input dealers in maize production. A knowledge test of 22 items was conducted on maize production. It consists of 6 items on seed management, 6 items on fertilizer and 10 items on agrochemical. All the items were placed on 2 point Likert type scale of yes or no. Yes was assigned the score of 1 and no was scored zero for positive questions and vice versa for negative questions. The independents variables include personal characteristics of agro-input dealers, extension related activities performed by them. The personal characteristics include age, education, language used in business, membership of registered agro-input association and source of information on the business. A 24 item scale of extension related activities placed on a three point Likert type scale of always =3, occasionally=2 and never=1 was used to elicit information from the respondents. The data were analyzed by using frequency, percentages, mean, and multiple regression model. The findings show that most (66%) input dealers were males, 28 years mean age, with at least secondary school education and have the ability to express themselves in both English and Yoruba language (68%). Seventy two percent of the input dealers perform extension activities most especially on seed management and appropriate choice of agro chemicals. They seldom advise farmers on use of equipments. There is a weak linkage with Extension Agents, Research Institute and Credits Institutions. They had high technical capacity in maize production. The regression model showed that level of education, membership and level of business operation contributed 75% to agro-input dealers’ technical capacity. It was concluded that agro-input dealer perform extension activities. The study recommended that education and size of agro-input business be considered for effective programme development on advisory deliver by agro-input dealers.
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