Abstract

There is a great public concern on the prevalence and effects of Human Immunes Virus (HIV) and Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) on the rural farmers and agricultural productivity in Nigeria. This study
evaluated the implication of this disease on extension services, using Dekina LGA as its focus. It identified the
level of HIV/AIDS prevalence by collecting secondary data on rate of HIV/AIDS infection from year 2000 to
2005 from medical centers in the study area. The study also examined farmers’ perception on HIV/AIDS using
mean scores from 5 point Likert scale in which, one hundred and sixty contact farmers were interviewed.
Farmers had the highest HIV/AIDS infection record with 50.6 percent and 8.19 in year 2001 and 2005
respectively. While estimated farmers HIV/AIDS infection by 2010 would be 1,972. Findings also show that
HIV/AIDS has negative effect on farmers health (mean score of 3.88), while 4.13 showed that respondents
favoured the statement that “stigmatization and the scaring nature of AIDS prevented them from going for
HIV/AIDS test. About 20 percent the extension workers claimed that infected farmers negatively affected their
extension work delivery in some ways. This study therefore recommends that every village should be provided
with comprehensive health clinic that would offer free HIV/AIDS treatment while capacity building for
agricultural extension agents that will disseminate information on HIV/AIDS to farmers be put in place. Team –
work approach among rural development agencies concerned with provision of rural, community social services
should also be encouraged.

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