Highlight five roles of agricultural extension in agricultural development in West Africa. [5 marks]…

Explanation

(a) Roles of agricultural extension in agricultural development in West Africa: 
– Provides effective linkage between researchers and farmers. 
– Serves as a two-way line of communication between policy makers (government) and farmers. 
– Provides opportunity for farmers to adopt improved farming methods, techniques and innovations. 
-Enables farmers to be aware of support services available to them including financial assistance /farm inputs. 
– Helps farmers to become competent and confident to confront their farming problems at the individual level. 
– Helps to supervise the beneficiaries of agricultural loans. 
– Assists in the supervision and evaluation of agricultural development programmes. 
– Helps farmers to identify better marketing channels to sell their farm produce. 
– Helps to improve farmers’ standard of living. 
– Helps in collection and collation of basic information relating to rural programmes. 
– Conducts and organises training for farmers/educate the farmers. 
-Helps in the implementation of auxiliary programmes eg. formation of Cooperatives, Young Farmers’ Club. 

(b) Problems faced by agricultural extension workers in West Africa: 
– Language barrier/communication challenges. 
– Conservatism of farmers. 
– Poor remuneration. 
– Socio-cultural barriers/conflicting religious beliefs. 
– Inadequate extension tools. 
– Illiteracy of the farmers. 
– Inadequate/poor transportation facilities. 
– Inadequate extension workers. 

(c) Discussion on the cultivation of groundnut:
(i) Soil requirements: 
– Requires well drained/sandy loam soil. 
– Requires soil rich in calcium and phosphorus. 
(ii) Method of propagation: 
– Propagated by seed. 
(iii) Methods of storage: 
– Dried unshelled groundnut seeds are packed into dry bags or sacks. 
– Dried groundnut seeds can be stored in clean rhombus or silos.
 – Dried clean pods are stored in baskets, pots or earthen bins or drums. 
– Dried groundnut seeds can be stored in silos. 

(d) Field pests and storage pests of maize: 
Fieldpests: 
– Grasshopper 
– Stern borer 
– Aphid 
– Bird
 – Termite 
– Monkey
 – Army worm 
– Squirrel 
– Silk worm. 
Storage pests: 
– Weevil 
– Rat/ mouse.