Influence of Agricultural Extension in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Production in Kebbi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study evaluates the impact of agricultural extension in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) production in Kebbi State with the aim of examining the level of involvement of participants in watermelon production in their community and to identify the problems militating against watermelon farming in the study area. The results of the findings revealed that the majority of the sampled farmers were male (85%) and were within the age range of 21-40 years with most (57.5%) of them married and farming (72.5%) was their major occupation. The result also revealed that most of the sampled participants have above 20 years of farming experience with farm size of 1-6 hectares with at least primary school qualification. The results of the findings further revealed that out of 60.0% of the participants involved in watermelon production. 50.0% were strongly involved while the remaining 10.0% were partially involved in watermelon farming. The study further revealed the mean difference of watermelon farming participant output before and after participation in the watermelon production to be 24.55 and the difference in the output was significant at a 1% level of probability (0.000) suggesting a positive impact on the participants. The study, however, revealed that the problems militating against effective implementation of watermelon production in the study area were inadequate capital, high cost of inputs, bad road, high cost of hiring machines, low level of extension visits, and poor storage facilities. The study, therefore, recommends that the Government should look for the assistance of watermelon farmers means, such as loans should be provided to the farmers and expansion of rural infrastructures such as; roads and markets.