ABSTRACT

The study evaluated the effectiveness of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in the Southeast Agro ecological zone of Nigeria. Three states were sampled for study from the zone. Abia State was purposively selected because it plays host to the headquarters of the only agricultural research institute in the zone National Root Crops Research Institute (NR.C.R.I) Umudike and the only university of agriculture Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (MOUAU) Umudike. Two States Imo and Akwa Thom were randomly selected for study. Sixty-four farmers were randomly selected for the study from each state, giving a total of one hundred and ninety two(192) farmers. Twenty block extension supervisors (BES) were randomly selected from each of the three states, giving a total of sixty (60) BES. Twenty (20) scientists, and thirty five (35) Research Support Staff were also randomly selected. NRCRI Umudike was purposively selected because it is the only research institute with the headquarters in the zone, while the other four, National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) substation Amakama Umuahia, National Horticultural Research Institute (NTHORT) Mbato station, Forestry Research Institute (FRIN) Ibeku field office and National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS)Umudike zonal office were randomly sampled for study out of the Nine research institutes with substations in the zone. Four universities were studied, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture was purposely selected because it is the only University of Agriculture in the zone, while Abia state University Uturu, Imo state University Owerri and University of Uyo were randomly sampled for study. Thirty-five academic staff constituting 10% in each institution and thirty non-academic staff also constituting 10% of the staff in the colleges of agricultural economics and extension were randomly sampled for study giving a total of 65 university staff. The total population studied was three hundred and seventy two (372) respondents. The instruments were developed, pre-tested, validated and used for the study. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage scores), adoption model (AIIETA), and multiple regression analysis. Results from the study showed that the linkages between research and extension was weak and therefore, technology transfer was also low as shown by the low achievement in the conduct of Monthly Technology Review Meetings (MTRMs) (44.4%). There was low level of collaboration between research,. universities and extension and no collaboration policy existed between them. The Extension Farm family ratio was also too large ranging from 1:1490 for Abia State and 1:10,508 for Bayelsa State, as against the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommended 1:800-1000. Based on achievement of the mandates, NRCR]I developed various technologies, which included 17 cassava varieties, 7 yam varieties, 9 value added products of cassava; yam and cocoyam minisett techniques were developed to reduce the cost and scarcity of planting materials. The mean adoption score of NRCRI technologies was medium (2.5) while value added products adoption was low (2.1) the reasons proffered were scarcity and high cost of technology packages, and unavailability of low cost processing machines.. Factors that influenced job performances by scientists included sex, age, marital status, household size access to internet, number of projects sponsored, regularity of salary and promotion. Job performance for extension agents was influenced by age, regularity of salaries, and on- the-job training. Farmer's adoption level was influenced by age, mass media contact, and contact with Agricultural Development Programmes (ADP). In conclusion, the institutions in NARS achieved their mandates at varying degrees in technology development and dissemination, and human resources development. It was recommended that salaries and promotion of academic staff and extension agents be made regular to increase their dedication to duty, collaboration should also be strengthened among the scientists involved in agriculture through appropriate policy formulation and implementation. NARIs and Universities should be provided with adequate physical infrastructures, and more extension agents should be employed to reduce the EAIFF ratio.