Evaluation of Agricultural Projects and Extension Services of the Bayelsa State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP)

The study evaluated the agricultural projects and extension services of the Bayelsa State Agricultural Development Programme. Three specific objectives and hypotheses were developed to guide the study. A descriptive survey design was employed to observe a cross-section of the population of the farmers in the three ADP zones, in Bayelsa State. Both purposive and proportionate sampling techniques were used to select two hundred and fifty – four (254) registered farmers for the study. Descriptive statistics such as percentage, arithmetic, and weighted mean scores were used, while inferential statistics - Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypotheses at a 0.05% level of probability. The findings showed that agricultural projects carried out in Bayelsa State within the past five years were: Fish farming (GM = 3.18), cropping practices of most crops (GM = 2.97), poultry production (GM = 2.71), seed multiplication/Yam minisette technology (GM = 2.70) and snail farming (GM = 2.59), among others. The findings also cataloged the agro projects that have not been carried out in the area including Yam bag technology (GM = 1.83), Goat/sheep farming (GM = 1.94), Grasscutter/Rabbit farming (GM = 1.80), processing of tubers/grains/plantains into flour and farmers' cooperative formation with an equal grand mean (GM = 2.32), among others. The result indicated that only: Fish farming (GM = 2.89), organic farming (GM = 2.76), poultry production (GM = 2.70), cropping practices of few crops, and snail farming with a marching grand mean (GM = 2.66) had high adoption rate in the study area. Finally, the findings showed that: Lack of insurance practices by farmers (GM = 3.68), when the farmers are not involved in the planning of the project (GM = 3.50), weak government policies/leap services in agriculture (GM = 3.30), when the projects are not guided by the needs of farmers (GM = 3.23), inadequate agricultural credits (GM = 3.14), lack of incentives for farmers (GM = 3.13) and when projects are gender-specific (GM = 3.10), among many other factors add up to the most serious challenges in adopting agricultural projects in Bayelsa State. All the ANOVA results in this study showed that the views of the registered farmers on the agricultural projects carried out by ADP in the past five years did not differ significantly among the three ADP zones in Bayelsa State at a P > 0.05 significant level. The study, therefore, recommended among others that: Agricultural Development Project (ADP) should beef up its extension package and extend worthwhile services to the farmers in their zones; Engagement of qualified Extension Agents in the Ministry of Agriculture with a clear mandate to assist the farm families to grow should be emphasized in Bayelsa State, and Registered farmers should be formed into cooperative groups and be involved in planning agricultural programs that concern them.