An assessment of the role of extension officers in farmers’ micro-credit management in Rivers State.

Abstract

The study examined the role of Nigeria Agip Oil Company(NAOC)Green River Project Extension Officers in farmers’ micro-credit management inRivers State. It specifically described the socio economic characteristics of the extension officers (EOs), assessed the role of extension officers in credit management and examined challenges faced by extension officers in assisting farmers in credit management. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and interview schedule from a total of14extension agents using random samplingtechnique.The study revealed that all (100%) the Extension officerswere married, had an average of 11.7 years of experience as an extension officer, attained tertiary education and had on the average 14.6 cooperatives and 12.8 farming groups assigned to each of them per year. All (100%) the Eosindicated that they play key roles in assisting farmers in credit management, such roles as group formation, record keeping, loan application, reminding farmers to repay loan and make savings, and help in conflict resolution. The EOs faced challenges of high level of illiteracy by the farmers and attitude of farmers in seeing loan as a grant. It was recommendedthat 7 farming groups and 10 cooperatives should be assigned to one extension officer annually for effective job delivery, which implies that NAOC should employ more EOs in other to get more hands that will attend to their numerous farmers efficiently. Extension officers should also help farmers in loan proposal preparation since they are having challenges of high level of illiteracy among farmers.