Abstract:
The study focused on finding out the emerging roles agricultural extension workers need to perform in meeting the food security needs of the Millennium Development Goals in Onitsha central zone of Anambra State. Specifically, the study sought for: (1) gender-related emerging roles of agricultural extension workers which can enhance the realization of food security in Onitsha central zone of the State; (2) the environmental conservation-related emerging roles of agricultural extension workers which can enhance the realization of food security in Onitsha central zone of the State; (3) the HIV/AIDS-related emerging roles of agricultural extension workers which can enhance the realization of food security in the area; (4) the ICT application-related emerging roles of agricultural extension workers which can help in the realization of food security in study area; and (5) migration-related emerging roles of agricultural extension workers which can enhance the realization of food security in the study area. The area of the study was the Central Agricultural zone of Anambra State which was made up of three Local Government Areas. Descriptive survey research design was employed for the study covering a target population of 480 registered farmers and twenty-four extension workers out of which a sample of 120 registered farmers was taken, and all the twenty-four extension workers were used giving a total sample size of 144. Sixty-three (63) items of structured questionnaire divided into five sections (A,B,C,D and E) were developed, validated, and tested for reliability and administered. One hundred and forty-four copies of the questionnaire given out were duly completed and returned. Mean and Standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that for the food security needs of the MDG to be achieved, seventeen gender issues, fourteen environmental conservation issues, eight HIV/AIDS issues, eleven ICT application issues, and four migration issues, need to be given adequate attention by the extension agents. These are supposed to constitute parts of their emerging roles. The study recommended that: (1) adequate mobilization and remuneration should be given to the extension workers to boost their morale and to enable them to cope with the challenges from these new roles; (2) there should be review of extension workers’ training programme to include these new roles; (3) public campaign and awareness programmes should be introduced by the government for the farmers to enable them not to see the extension workers as crossing their boundaries while carrying out their emerging roles.
