Cooperatives Extension

1. Define extension service and its foundations.
2. Identify effective communication channels for rural development.
3. Explain the legal and policy frameworks governing extension services.
4. Apply planning tools for co-ordinated extension programs.
5. Analyze case studies to identify problems and solutions in extension services.
6. Evaluate the role of extension agents in the diffusion and adoption process.

13 weeks, about 28 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1:

   • Unit 1: The General Foundations of Cooperative Extension Service · 2 hours

     Read Unit 1: Definition of extension service, foundations of cooperative extension service in Nigeria.. Understand the roles of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.. Review the functions of the Department of Cooperative and Agricultural Development Project (ADP)..

   • Unit 2: The Importance of Extension Service in Nigeria · 2 hours

     Read Unit 2: Contributions of extension service to economic growth and rural development.. Examine the role of extension in achieving national food security and alleviating rural poverty.. Understand the concept of Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development (SARD)..

2. Week 2Module 1:

   • Unit 3: The Legal Base, Objectives, SCRDe and Functions of Extension Service · 2 hours

     Study Unit 3: Legal bases, objectives, and functions of extension service.. Understand the management of extension service in Nigeria.. Review international examples of legislated extension policies..

3. Week 3Module 1:

   • Unit 4: The General Survey of Channels of Communication in Rural Development · 2 hours

     Explore Unit 4: Channels of communication in rural development, including personal contact, meetings, and reports.. Analyze the importance of communication in grassroots mobilization.. Evaluate the use of posters, leaflets, radio, and television in rural communication..

4. Week 4Module 1:

   • Unit 5: The Yardsticks that can Enhance Effective Selection of Communication Channels for Cooperative Grassroots Mobilisation · 2 hours

     Study Unit 5: Yardsticks for effective selection of communication channels, including performance, content, and appeal.. Understand the factors affecting the selection of communication methods.. Review the categories of extension workers and factors farmers consider before adopting a practice..

5. Week 5Module 2:

   • Unit 1: The Essential Ingredients of Cooperative Extension Services · 2 hours

     Read Unit 1: Definition of cooperative extension service, its organization, and funding.. Understand the methods and attributes of cooperative extension service.. Review the stages and approaches to cooperative extension service..

6. Week 6Module 2:

   • Unit 2: Identification of Problems of Cooperative Extension Service · 2 hours

     Study Unit 2: Economic, organizational, and structural problems of cooperative extension service.. Analyze the impact of population issues and unstable policy frameworks.. Understand the challenges of inadequate funding and weak linkages between research and extension..

7. Week 7Module 2:

   • Unit 3: Opinion Leaders and their Roles in Cooperative Extension Service · 2 hours

     Explore Unit 3: Roles of opinion leaders in cooperative extension service.. Understand the shift from directive to participatory extension.. Review the causes of attitude change and their impact on adoption..

8. Week 8Module 2:

   • Unit 4: Planning as an Essential Tool for a Well Co-ordinated Cooperative Extension Programme · 2 hours

     Read Unit 4: Planning as an essential tool for cooperative extension programs.. Understand the planning process, characteristics of a good plan, and business forecasts.. Review the reasons for planning and its benefits..

9. Week 9Module 2:

   • Unit 5: Various Types of Planning with Relation to Extension Programme · 2 hours

     Study Unit 5: Strategic, tactical, and contingency planning in relation to extension programs.. Understand the elements of a cooperative extension program.. Review the progressive cycle of extension program planning and its importance..

10. Week 10Module 3:

    • Unit 1: Case Studies in Cooperative Extension Service · 2 hours

      Explore Unit 1: Purpose of case studies in cooperative extension service.. Understand the description of simple and topical case studies.. Review the methods of collecting data and the reasons for case studies..

11. Week 11Module 3:

    • Unit 2: Analysis of Simple Case Studies and the Advantages of Case Studies in Cooperative Extension Service · 2 hours

      Read Unit 2: Advantages of case studies in cooperative extension service in Nigeria.. Understand the challenges of conducting case studies.. Analyze sample case studies and their implications..

12. Week 12Module 3:

    • Unit 3: Innovation, Identification of Diffusion and Adoption Process · 2 hours

      Study Unit 3: Definition of innovation, opinion leadership, diffusion, and adoption.. Understand the attributes of an innovation.. Review the stages in rates and adopted categories..

13. Week 13Module 3:

    • Unit 4: The Role of Extension Agents in the Diffusion-Adoption Process and Training and Visit (T&V) System in Nigeria · 2 hours

      Explore Unit 4: Role of extension agents in the diffusion-adoption process.. Understand extension teaching methods and the creed of rural reconstruction development.. Review the Training and Visit (T&V) system in Nigeria and its key features..