Socio-economic Factors Influencing Extension Workers’ Effective use of Knowledge Management in Agricultural Extension Services

Abstract

The study assessed the factors influencing extension workers effective use of Knowledge Management (KM) inSokoto State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling procedure was used to sample respondents from the study area andExtension Workers were selected from Sokoto Agricultural Development Project (SADP). Socio-economiccharacteristics were using structured questionnaire and a total of 188 respondents were sampled and data collectedanalysed using descriptive statistics and logit model as tools of analysis. The result of the study showed that 74.4% ofthe extension workers were male and majority (79.8%) were married. More so, 35% of the extension workers arewithin the age range of 31 – 40 years with household average size of 5-10 children. Majority (79%) of the extensionworkers had tertiary education. (35%) had experience ranging from 21-25 years on extension service delivery. About41% of respondents used motor cycle as a mean of transportation. Result of logit model shows that marital status,level of education, service experience, cosmopolitness and means of transportation had positive and significantrelationship with effectiveness of KM whereas household size and rank of extension workers had significant andnegative relationship with KM. It is therefore recommended that KM be encouraged and disseminated through topmanagement approach in SADP. This will avail quality and better extension service delivery by extension agencybecause the vast knowledge and experience garnered on effective extension service delivery by top managementofficer will be shared and passed on to junior officers. This will go in line with strengthening and improving thecapacity building of extension workers.