ABSTRACT
This study assessed the impact of Diocesan Development Services on “farmers in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State. The assessment focused on the adoption of recommended practices, gross farm output and level of living. Fifty DDS contact farmers as well as fifty non contact farmers were interviewed. The results indicated that the DDS had a positive impact on the target farmers. The adoption score and rate for the contact farmers were comparatively higher than the non contact farmers. The innovation examined were improved cassava varieties, rice varieties, seed dressing, storage chemicals yam minisett technology and use of herbicides. The innovation with highest adoption response was seed dressing. The innovation least adopted was the use of improved cassava varieties by the contact farmers. As a result of adoption of these improved planting materials and other technologies promoted by DDS, there was comparatively higher increased yield for the contact farmers over the non contact farmers. The mean values of’ the household income from the sales of the four selected crops in monetary terms were N2398.00 for maize, M2195.00 for rice, M5018.00 for yam and M1768.00 for cassava. The mean values for the non-contact farmers were, N1362.00for maize, N674.00 for rice, N503.00 for yam and N988.00 for cassava. These results showed a significant difference between yield of contact and non-contact farmers. The result of analysis of variance comparing the average income of contact and non contact farmers indicated that the contact farmers had more average income than the non-contact farmers.The result further showed an increased level of living for contact farmers as compared to the non contact farmers. Contact farmers spent more money in funding their children’s education than the non contact farmers and also had more food security than the non contact farmers.The result of Pearson Correlation analysis showed that institutional variables such as agricultural credit, extension contact were positively associated with increased output, and level of living of the contact farmers. Regression analysis indicated that extension contact and use of fertilizer were the best predictor of the observed change in the increased farm output and level of living. The success of DDS effort seems to lie in its “bottom up” development strategy and a short line of authority in the organization. These seem to facilitate quick implementation of directives.
IMPACT OF CATHOLIC DIOCESAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES EXTENSION ON FARM OUTPUT AND INCOME OF FARMERS IN IDAH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE
