Hybrid agricultural extension services are significantly improving the productivity of agricultural extension workers in Ondo State, Nigeria, according to a study conducted by Oluwafolakemi Ayo Olaniyan from Adekunle Ajasin University. Published in 2026 in the International Journal of Integrated Science and Technology (IJIST), the study found that combining traditional face-to-face extension methods with digital communication technologies has strengthened agricultural advisory services and accelerated information delivery to farmers in rural communities.
The research highlights longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s agricultural extension system. Traditional extension services still depend heavily on direct farm visits, community meetings, demonstration farms, and group discussions. However, limited funding, shortages of extension personnel, poor logistics, and weak infrastructure have made it difficult for extension workers to consistently reach remote farming communities.
To overcome these limitations, agricultural institutions in Ondo State have begun implementing hybrid extension systems that combine conventional outreach with digital tools. These systems use platforms such as WhatsApp, online training (e-training), farmers’ contact centers, community radio programs, social media, and digital agricultural applications to improve communication between extension workers and farmers.
The study involved all 50 agricultural extension workers under the Ondo State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) using a complete enumeration method. Researchers collected data through validated questionnaires and analyzed the results using descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis.
According to the findings, the extension workforce was predominantly female, accounting for 56 percent of respondents, with an average age of 47 years and approximately 18 years of professional experience. Around 70 percent of participants had tertiary education qualifications, suggesting strong potential for digital skills development and technology adoption.
The study identified several hybrid extension tools most frequently used by extension workers:
- integrated communication platforms such as WhatsApp,
- farmers’ contact and call centers,
- and hybrid farmer field schools combining online and face-to-face learning.
Researchers found that WhatsApp was the most widely used platform because it allows extension workers to quickly share agricultural innovations, farming advice, and updates with farmers at low cost. The study suggests that simple communication applications remain central to digital agricultural transformation in rural Nigeria.
Hybrid extension services were mainly applied in several agricultural activities, including:
- crop management and fertilization,
- pest and disease control,
- post-harvest management,
- livestock management,
- market information,
- and agricultural technology adoption.
The research also revealed that extension workers perceived hybrid services as highly beneficial for improving productivity and information delivery. Many respondents agreed that combining digital and traditional methods made agricultural information more timely, useful, and accessible for farmers.
One of the strongest findings showed that hybrid extension services significantly improved the overall productivity of extension workers. Statistical analysis demonstrated a positive and significant relationship between the extent of hybrid extension delivery and worker productivity, with a regression coefficient of β = 0.460 and a significance level below 0.05.
Despite these positive outcomes, the study also identified several major barriers to implementation, including:
- limited access to ICT devices,
- high digital service costs,
- low digital literacy among extension workers and farmers,
- poor internet connectivity,
- and the digital divide between rural and urban communities.
Researchers emphasized that hybrid extension services should complement rather than completely replace traditional agricultural extension methods. Direct interaction between extension workers and farmers remains important for building trust and delivering practical demonstrations, while digital tools help expand coverage and improve efficiency.
The study recommends increased government investment in ICT infrastructure, continuous digital literacy training for extension workers, development of local-language digital platforms, and stronger collaboration between government agencies, technology companies, universities, and agricultural research institutions.
According to the research, hybrid extension systems could become an important strategy for modernizing agriculture in developing countries facing shortages of extension personnel and growing demands for faster agricultural information services.
Author Profile
- Oluwafolakemi Ayo Olaniyan - University, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Research Source
Olaniyan, O.A. (2026). Effect of Hybrid Extension Services on Agricultural Extension Workers’ Productivity in Ondo State, Nigeria. International Journal of Integrated Science and Technology (IJIST), Vol. 4 No. 4, 276–287.
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