Agricultural Extension Service in Ethiopia : The role of Social System and Farmers’- Agricultural Development Agents Relationship

Introduction: This study was about the role of social system factors and farmer-development agent’s relationship in affecting agricultural extension service the case of five selected woreda of Ilubabor Zone. The objectives of this study mainly focused on the current structure of extension system, social system factors and farmer-development agent as well as challenges pertaining agricultural extension service in the study area.Methods: The study employed both qualitative and quantitative research method in the form of triangulation. Therefore, survey, in-depth interview, observation and focus group discussion method has been employed to collect information from household heads, participants and interview respondents. For this study 5 woreda which can be representative for the whole has been purposively selected. Then, 3 kebele has been selected for information using simple random sampling technique. Finally, 350 households were selected from selected area for survey questionnaire by using systematic sampling technique. On the other hand, in-depth interview and FGD were conducted with purposively selected local community members and experts in the woreda. Results: The finding of the study revealed that, agricultural extension approach of the study area governed under direct supervision of regional level structure, the lower level structure has limited power and resource in extension service program. Furthermore, social system factors like social norms, gender role, religion and opinion leadership role have tremendous impact on agricultural extension service provision in the study area. Again, as the finding of this study indicated, there is no good relationship between farmers and development agents. Along with the challenges of agricultural extension service, problem like, staff turnover, skill gap, false report, ethical misconduct and budget constraint are few among many detrimental factors to extension service program in the study area