Language-Specific Agricultural Extension and Household Food Security: Evidence from TME419 Cassava Farmers in Obingwa Local Government Area, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of language-specific agricultural extension materials on TME419 cassava cultivation and household food security among rural farmers in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design involving treatment and control groups. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 240 registered cassava farmers, comprising 120 farmers exposed to Ngwa-Igbo dialect-based extension materials and 120 farmers exposed to conventional English/Pidgin extension materials. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The language-specific materials were developed through translation, back-translation, and expert validation by linguists and agronomists to ensure linguistic accuracy and technical relevance. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, and multiple regression analyses were used for data analysis. The findings revealed no significant differences in the socio-demographic characteristics of the treatment and control groups at baseline, indicating comparability between groups. However, farmers who received Ngwa-Igbo dialect-based extension materials recorded significantly higher cassava yields (25.3 tonnes/ha) than those who received conventional extension materials (15.6 tonnes/ha) (t = 18.42, p < 0.05). Regression analysis further showed that language-specific extension materials were the strongest predictor of cassava productivity and household food security (β = 0.52, p < 0.001), accounting for a substantial proportion of the variation in yield outcomes. Qualitative findings also indicated that farmers found the dialect-based materials easier to understand, more culturally relevant, and more applicable to their farming practices. The study concludes that language-specific agricultural extension materials significantly enhance the adoption of improved cassava production practices, increase cassava yields, and promote household food security among rural farmers. The study recommends the integration of indigenous language-based communication strategies into agricultural extension programmes to improve technology dissemination and agricultural productivity in rural communities.