Abstract

The study assessed the linkages that exit among research agencies in transfer of technology for continuous agricultural production in South East Nigeria. Four research questions and hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted ex-post-facto research design. The population for the study was 2,276 comprised of 112 agricultural extension agents, 393 officers of research institutes and 1,771 registered contact farmers. The sample for the study was 486 made up of 112 extension agents, 197 officers and 177 farmers. A sixty seven (67) structured questionnaire items developed from related literature reviewed and face validated by three experts was used for data collection. The reliability of the questionnaire items was determined using Cronbach Alpha method and a co-efficient of 0.80 was obtained. Three research assistants helped to distribute and retrieve the copies of the questionnaire which were analyzed using mean, t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical tools. The findings of the study revealed 12 mechanisms adopted by each agency for agricultural technology transfer. 09 delivery channels; 36 constraints and 13 strategies for effective technology transfer. It was therefore recommended that the agencies should formulate and pursue the same objective; government to formulate policies for uniform implementation of technology transfer, establish and equip research institutes with infrastructural facilities, provide adequate training and retrain extension agents and farmers to enhance technology transfer linkages using the identified strategies.         

Key words: Agriculture, technology transfer, linkages, research, agencies, extension.