OLADELE O.I, ABISOYE B. SOMORIN
Abstract
This study determined the degree of technology and extension gaps among rice farmers in Ogun State. Two out of
the four zones (Abeokuta and Ikenne), where rice production is prevalent were selected. From the two zones with a
total of 1 050 farmers, 100 farmers were randomly selected. Also 50 extension agents were randomly selected. A
combination of both primary and secondary data were used and subjected to frequency counts and percentages. The
result shows that majority of the farmers (58%) are male and are above 40 years of age (43.4%) married (60%),
Christians (62.5%) and without formal education (54%). Majority of the respondents (66%) has family size of between
5–10 members. The extension gap shows that the degree of deviation from the expected yield was so prominent
with the category of 0.5 to 1 t/ha representing 68 percent of the farmers. The most critical proportion are those
whose yield are lower than the expected yield by more than 1t/ha (10 percent). The technology gap, shows that the
differential was mainly less than 0.5t/ha (70 percent). However, about 10 percent had a yield difference. Farmers
were more knowledgeable in the areas of when fertilizer should be applied (69.3%), period of 2nd weeding after
planting (72%), period of application of Pre-emergence herbicides (69.3%) and the number of times weeding should
be carried out on the rice farm (66.7%). Farmers were accurate when mixing herbicides and water (94.7%), period
of applying post emergence herbicides (72%), and period of first weeding on the rice farm (69.3%).
Key words:
technology transfer, technology gaps, extension gaps, rice farmers, Nigeria, on-farm adaptive research,
expected yield, actual yield