Role Performance Of Local Government Councils In Agricultural Development In South-East Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The study assessed the role performance of local government councils in agricultural

development in south-east Nigeria. Specifically, the study was designed to: ascertain role

expectations of LGCs agriculture departments as perceived by LG agriculture/veterinary

department staff and farmers, determine agricultural role achievements of LGCs as perceived by

LG staff and farmers, ascertain LGs’ funding for agriculture from 2007 to 2011, identify linkages

that exist between farmers, LGCs and agricultural development agencies/projects/programmes

such as ADP, CADP etc. and identify factors that militate against performance of LGCs in

agricultural development. Four states namely: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu were used for

the study. Structured Interview schedule/self-administered questionnaire, and oral interview were

used for data collection. Secondary data were collected from annual budget and expenditure

profiles of the LGCs. Only 324 copies of questionnaire were used for analysis. Data on personal

characteristics were presented using percentage, mean scores and standard deviation. Five point

Likert-type scale was used to measure role achievement; four point and three point scales were

used to measure role expectation and factors inhibiting role performance of LGCs, respectively.

The decision points of the mean scores were ≥ 3.0, ≥ 2.5 and ≥ 2.0, respectively. Linkages

between LGCs, farmers and agricultural programmes were presented in percentage. Students’ ttest

was used to test for differences between the opinions of LG staff and farmers on LGCs’ role

expectations and achievements, while factors inhibiting role performance of LGCs were further

subjected to factor analysis. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test

differences in fund allocations among the four states at 5% probability level. Majority (80.4%) of

the farmers were literate and about 34% completed higher education. A considerable percentage

(57.2%) of farmers was male while 53.0% of the staff was female. Many (54.1%) of the staff

obtained degree certificates (B.Sc/HND and M.Sc/Ph.D). There was general inadequacy of

sufficient number of trained staff in agriculture departments of most of the LGs. The mean scores

of the respondents on role expectation were provision of water scheme (LG staff; ıı =2.3,

farmers; ıı =2.6), road network (LG staff; ı̅=2.6, farmers; ı̅=2.7) and tractors (LG staff; ıı =2.2,

farmers; ıı =2.5). The mean scores on role achievement by LGCs were provision of processing

plants (LG staff;ıı =3.7, farmers; ıı =2.1), bore-holes (LG staff ıı =4.1, farmers; ıı =2.3). There

were significant differences (p≤ 0.05) between LG staff and farmers’ perception on expected

agricultural roles and role achievement of LGCs. The means of the fund allocation varied

significantly (p≤ 0.05) among the four states. Small percentages of funds allocated to LGs were

allocated to agriculture department. Over the five-years period, mean fund allocation for

agriculture development was highest in Abia State (ıı =N81,812,408.60) and lowest in Ebonyi

State (ııııı =N1,953,333.20). Respondents indicated that there were linkages between LGCs and

RTEP in training of staff (65.9%), NSPFS in fund transfer (53.6%) and Fadama III Project in

joint diagnosis of problems (43.0%). Factors militating against LGCs’ performance were corrupt

practices among management (ı̅ =2.6), lack of LG autonomy (ı̅ = 2.5), inadequate fund

allocation (ı̅ =2.8), and poor attitude to work among staff (ı̅ =2.8). Three constraint factors were

identified, namely, managerial, financial and logistic as constraints to effective performance of

LGCs. It was recommended that there should be representatives of farmers’ associations in LGs’

agriculture/veterinary departments who will be involved in planning of agricultural interventions

that will address farmers’ felt needs. It was also recommended that there is need for provision of

adequate funds for agricultural development activities to LGCs for improved agricultural

production in LGAs among others.