EXTENSION TEACHING OF MELON FARMERS HOW IMPROVED FARM PRACTICES SHOULD BE USED AND ADOPTED UNDER THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL FARM LOCATION AND RESOURCE AVAILABILITY IN YAKURR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

¹Adinya I. B. and ²Mahmood, H. U.

¹Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Cross River University of Technology, Obubra Campus

²Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Taraba State University, Jaligo

 E Mail: dradinyaignatius@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The study analyzes extension teaching of melon farmers how improved farm practices should be used and adopted under their own individual farm location and resource availability in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State. Data were collected from 76 respondents in the study area using proportional sampling techniques and the 76 respondents were picked from the list of farmers in extension agents’ list that covers the study area. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The rankling of sources of information regarding new innovations in melon production in the study area saw extension agent (47.36%) as major source of information regarding to new technologies in melon production. The radio (22.36%), television (19.74%). friends / neighbour (9.21%) and internet / website information (1.32%) were ranked second, third, fourth and fifth respectively. The result of the test of hypothesis shows that there is significant different in yield of melon farmers that were trained by skilled extension agents and yield of melon farmers that were not trained. It was recommended that government should train more extension agents and post them to rural areas were melon farms were established this would enable more farmers to adopt innovation that would lead to increased productivities and increased standard of living in rural communities.