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 Education and Life Sciences (IJELS), the study found that combining traditional face-to-face extension methods with digital communication technologies has strengthened information delivery and increased the effectiveness of agricultural advisory services in rural communities.
The research was conducted in response to growing challenges facing Nigeria’s traditional agricultural extension system. Conventional extension services have long relied on direct farm visits, community meetings, and demonstration plots. However, the system has struggled with limited funding, shortages of qualified personnel, poor logistics, and the difficulty of reaching remote farming communities.
To address these problems, agricultural institutions in Ondo State began adopting hybrid extension systems that combine physical outreach with digital communication tools. The model integrates platforms such as WhatsApp, farmers’ call centers, online training (e-training), social media, community radio, 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. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression to evaluate the influence of hybrid extension services on worker productivity.
The findings showed that most extension workers were female, with an average age of 47 years and approximately 18 years of professional experience. About 70 percent of respondents had tertiary education qualifications, which researchers identified as an important foundation for adopting digital extension technologies.
The study identified several hybrid extension tools that were 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.
According to the research, WhatsApp emerged as the most widely used platform because it is considered practical, affordable, and effective for quickly sharing agricultural innovations with farmers. The findings suggest that simple communication technologies remain central to agricultural digital transformation in rural Nigeria.
Hybrid extension services were mainly applied in several important agricultural activities, including:
- crop management and fertilization,
- pest and disease control,
- post-harvest handling,
- technology adoption,
- and market and weather information services.
The study further found that most extension workers believed hybrid services improved their professional productivity. Around 92 percent of respondents agreed that hybrid systems enhanced overall extension effectiveness, while 82 percent stated that combining digital and physical support made agricultural information more timely and useful for farmers.
Despite these benefits, the research identified several major barriers to implementation. The most significant challenges included limited access to ICT devices, high costs of digital services, low digital literacy among some extension workers and farmers, and poor internet connectivity in rural areas.
Linear regression analysis showed that the extent of hybrid extension service delivery had a strong and statistically significant positive influence on extension workers’ productivity, with a beta value of 0.460 and a significance level below 0.05. The findings confirm that integrating digital tools into agricultural extension systems can substantially improve service efficiency and outreach.
The researcher emphasized that hybrid extension systems should function as complements rather than replacements for traditional extension methods. Combining direct human interaction with digital communication is considered the most practical strategy for strengthening agricultural knowledge transfer in rural communities.
The study recommends increased government investment in digital infrastructure, continuous digital literacy training for extension workers, the development of local-language extension platforms, and partnerships with technology companies and agricultural research institutions to expand hybrid extension services across Nigeria.
The findings are considered important for many developing countries facing agricultural modernization challenges and shortages of extension personnel. Hybrid extension systems are viewed as a promising pathway for accelerating digital agriculture transformation while improving farmers’ access to knowledge, technology, and market information.
Author Profile
- Oluwafolakemi Ayo Olaniyan - Adekunle Ajasin 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 Education and Life Sciences (IJELS), Vol. 4 No. 4, 367–378.
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