| The primary purpose of this study was to identify the professional competencies needed by agricultural extension agents in Bendel State of Nigeria, as perceived by the extension personnel: State and Local Government Area (LGA) staff. The secondary and tertiary purposes were to identify and verify when the professional competencies should be learned, and who would benefit most once the extension agents acquired the competencies. The secondary and tertiary purposes were achieved by the LGA (extension agents) staff perceptions.;A survey instrument made up of selected biographic and experiential characteristics and 61 professional competency statements was developed. A stratified random sample of 50 State and 120 LGA staff personnel were mailed the instrument. A 91.7 percent response rate from the LGA staff and 40 percent from the State staff personnel was used for data analyses.;Respondents indicated that 98.4 percent of the competency statements were highly needed by the agricultural extension agents. There were no statistically significant differences between the State and LGA staff regarding their perceptions of the need for agents' competence in the competency statements within: Program Planning, Program Execution, Program Evaluation, Teaching, Communication, Understanding Human Behavior, and Young Farmers' Club. Significant differences were observed in the Administration and Supervision competency.;The Maximum R('2) Improvement Stepwise Regression showed that the combined effects of age, years spent in extension service, highest educational level attained, and location of place of work (whether at the State capital or in the LGA's) significantly influenced the extension personnel's perceptions of the need for competence in Administration and Supervision. The title of current position and number of years in this position significantly influenced their perceptions of program planning. There were no significant relationships between the selected characteristics and the extension personnel's perceptions of the need for competence in Program Execution, Program Evaluation, Teaching, Communication, Understanding Human Behavior, and Young Farmers' Club.;The extension agents or LGA staff indicated that 59 of the competency statements should be learned on the job, and the remaining two through in-service training. Having the extension agents competent in the eight professional competency categories was perceived by the agents as most beneficial to all possible groups: the farmer, the employer, and the agents themselves. |
