SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY INTERACTION FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: A SURVEY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE TEACHERS IN SELECTED STATES OF SOUTH -WESTERN NIGERIA

The attitude of agricultural science teachers (ASTs) in secondary schools within south -western zone of Nigeria was assessed towards the extra -ministerial duty of extending agricultural information to farmers within their school communities through the use of pre- tested and validated Likert -scale questionnaire. Random sample was drawn from the stratified population (states) in the zone. All the ASTs in the selected schools were involved in the study. Results reveal that the agriculture teachers are favourably disposed to extending agricultural information to farmers of their school communities. The ASTs want 40% of their work time spent on agricultural extension duties for a 50% pay -rise. It was recommended that the attitude of school administrators and agricultural extension programme agencies be assessed in order to determine their 'willingness' or otherwise in involving ASTs in agricultural extension activities. If these agencies are favourably disposed, then, a good working relationship between the ASTs and the agricultural development agencies should be developed. It is anticipated that a cordial working relationship will lead to a high participation level of the farmers and higher efficiency in the delivery of extension services, besides other advantages