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Effect of Agricultural Extension Services on Farmers’ Adoption of Crop Disease Scouting Practices

Abstract

The study examines the effect of agricultural extension services on farmers’ adoption of crop disease scouting practices. Regular disease scouting is an important crop management practice that enables farmers to observe crops systematically and identify signs of disease at an early stage. Timely detection can support prompt management decisions, reduce the spread of crop diseases, and minimize potential production losses. Agricultural extension services can provide farmers with relevant information and practical guidance on effective disease scouting methods and field observation. The study will assess farmers’ access to agricultural extension services on crop disease scouting and examine the extent to which farmers adopt recommended scouting practices. It will also identify the major methods used by farmers to monitor crops for disease symptoms and determine the types of extension information provided on disease identification and field observation. The study will consider practices such as regular field inspection, systematic observation of crop leaves and stems, identification of unusual plant symptoms, recording disease occurrences, and timely reporting of suspected disease problems. A descriptive survey design will be adopted for the study. The population will comprise crop farmers in the selected study area, from whom respondents will be selected using an appropriate sampling procedure. Data will be collected through a structured questionnaire administered to the sampled farmers. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation will be used to analyze the data, while an appropriate inferential statistical technique will be employed to determine the effect of agricultural extension services on farmers’ adoption of crop disease scouting practices. The study is expected to reveal the level of farmers’ access to agricultural extension services on crop disease scouting and the extent of their adoption of recommended practices. It is also expected to identify the common scouting methods used by farmers and the major challenges encountered during disease monitoring. The findings may further indicate areas where additional extension education, practical demonstrations, and technical support are required to improve farmers’ ability to detect crop diseases at an early stage. The study will be useful to agricultural extension officers, crop protection agencies, policymakers, and farmers’ organizations by providing information on the role of agricultural extension services in promoting effective crop disease scouting. The findings may assist extension personnel in developing practical training programmes on field observation, symptom recognition, disease reporting, and regular crop monitoring. Improved adoption of disease scouting practices may contribute to earlier detection of crop health problems, more timely management decisions, and reduced production losses. The study will conclude by assessing the contribution of agricultural extension services to farmers’ adoption of appropriate crop disease scouting practices. Based on the findings, the study will recommend regular extension visits, practical field demonstrations, farmer training, and improved access to reliable crop health information. These measures may strengthen farmers’ capacity to monitor their crops effectively and support sustainable and productive crop production.

Keywords: Agricultural extension services, crop disease scouting, farmers’ adoption, disease detection, crop monitoring, field inspection, disease identification, crop health, agricultural extension, disease reporting, crop protection, farmer training, crop production, pest management, Nigeria.