SUSTAINABILITY IN AGRICULTURE: THE NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE WITH RESEARCH AND EXTENSION SERVICE AGENCIES

This study reviews the prospect of fostering sustainable agrarian growth through the activities of present research and extension service agencies. The analysis shows that very limited achievements stand to their credit in terms of attainment of set targets, capacity building, incentive administration, institutional viability and the relationship of their operations to the performance of the agricultural sector. Among the problems which undermine their efficiency and sustainability are weak human, institutional and management capacity. This' is coupled with undue government interference and lack of sustainable /14nding; propagation of modernisation technologies which tended to undermine traditional ,\ystems; and weak interrelationships and interactions between research and extension ~·ervice efforts and the dominant farming systems. The study concludes by charting a credible course for sustainability of these institutions as well as agrarian growth.