Perceived Manpower Development Influence on Organisational Effectiveness in Akwa Ibom Agricultural Development Programme (Akadep):2009-2013

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between manpower development and organisational effectiveness in AKADEP. It was necessary to carry out this research because despite AKADEP's decades of existence and sustained funding by Akwa Ibom State Government, the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as International Donor Organisations (The World Bank, UNDP, and IFAD), there is still manpower gap in AKADEP, basic food items consumed in Akwa Ibom State are sourced externally, prices of food stuffs are on the increase, the poorly trained farmers are hungry and poor which raises concern on the effectiveness of AKADEP -agency established exclusively to provide extension services to farmers. Survey data were collected through simple random sampling of 237 respondents drawn from the eight sub-programmes of AKADEP. Measures of the study were of good quality after assuring reliability and validity. Hypotheses were tested using Pearson's Product Moment on SPSS. The result of the analysis showed that manpower development in AKADEP is related positively to effectiveness of the organisation. A dependency relationship was also established between adoption of modern farming techniques by small scale farmers and increased farm yield in the study area. Impact of internally arranged training programmes was significant. Farmers and the Local Governments were encouraged to support AKADEP extension officers through provision of transport allowance, mobility or even phone calls to sustain agent's interest, bridge the missed cycle, and guarantee food sufficiency.