Abstract

The study examined the performance of extension workers with respect to agricultural development in Kaduna State among the sampled agricultural extension workers. The study aimed at assessing the attitudes of the workers to job performance and identifying factors that enhance performance among workers in the study area. Primary data were collected from a sample of 60 agricultural extension workers. The study area has six extension stations at different locations. In each station, ten samples were taken adopting purposive sampling technique. The sample is believed to be adequate to reflect the opinion of entire extension workers. The non-parametric Chi Square technique and descriptive statistics were adopted to analyse the data. The study showed that majority of the extension workers 66.7% were married and males fell within the age-group of 21 and 40 years. The educational level was relatively average as 36.7% had either Ordinary National Diploma or Nigeria Certificate of Education (NCE). Indeed, only 20% claimed that the income was adequate. However, the job performance score was high as 75%. There were divergent opinions about some impediments that affected the job performance such as poor condition of service, irregular wages and allowances, and inadequacy of important materials and equipment to execute the work. The attitude of majority of the workers towards their job was found to be encouraging. The statistical test showed that there was a significant difference between level of education, attitude and the job performance of the extension workers at 0.05 alpha level. On the basis of the findings, one recommends that ministries and agencies concerned should address the constraints that affect agricultural extension workers’ performance once and for all and it will go a long way to boost job performance. Moreover, improvement in attitude of workers can as well result in a remarkable increment in agricultural productivity.

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