Abstract

Oyakilomen O. Frank

The study assessed rural poultry extension services in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected using interview schedule with 120 household poultry rearers that were selected randomly from four communities in the local government area. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC) and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings showed that majority of the respondents were females 61.67 and 35% were above 50 years, and 70% were married with household size of 5 to 8 (30.83%), while 43.22% had no formal education. Also majority reared poultry on free range (53.3%), had stock sizes of ≤ 20 birds (77.50%) and 36.44% had poultry experience of above 15 years. About 92.50% had no contact with extension agent. There was poor access to improved poultry information and technologies (all < cut-off) while high needs were expressed with handling day old chicks and control of pest and diseases having mean=2.83 each and deworming (mean=2.78). Stock size (r= -0.312; p=0.001) and extension contact (r= - 0.455; p=0.001) were significant negatively related to rural poultry extension services required. Scavenge-based poultry farmers indicated the greatest need for extension services (F= 5.81; p = 0.01). It was recommended that Delta State ADP and affiliate programmes should deploy extension agents/facilitators to the study area and ensure that information and technologies on poultry are addressed.