Challenges in administering the cross river state ministry of agriculture, nigeria

Project Abstract

<p> The study was conducted to identify the challenges in administering the Cross River State<br>Ministry of Agriculture, Nigeria. All the staff of the ministry constituted the population for the<br>study. A proportionate sampling technique was used in selecting respondents, with twenty<br>percent (20%) of respondents from each of the departments. Thus the total sample size for the<br>study was one hundred and thirteen (113) respondents. Percentages, mean and frequency were<br>used in the presentation and analysis of the data collected. The result of the study showed that the<br>majority of staff (85.5%) were married and 64.5% of respondents were males; the mean age of<br>staff was 43.85%. About 43.5% of the respondents had Bachelor of science (B.Sc) as their<br>highest educational qualification, above average (55.3%) of the staff specialized in agricultural<br>science related discipline.<br>Results revealed that the State government (85.5%) was the ministry’s<br>major source of funding, and 80.9% indicated that fund was insufficient. They agreed the<br>approved budget was three hundred and sixty nine million, four hundred and nineteen thousand,<br>three hundred and sixty five hundred, forty one kobo (N 367,419,365.41) rather than a proposed<br>budget of one billion, five hundred and sixty eight million, six hundred and twenty two thousand,<br>eight hundred and sixty three naira, zero kobo (N1,568,622,863.00) for different departments.<br>The ministry is understaffed by three hundred and fifty seven persons (357) and lacks<br>infrastructure as only buildings for offices was indicated as available (71.8%) and functional<br>(62.7%) by respondents. Major constraints identified from this result were poor funds for<br>purchase of equipment (M=2.18), improper and inadequate staffing (M=1.55), insufficient<br>electricity supply (M=2.49), inadequate funding of State ministry’s interrelationship activities<br>(M=2.54). Results also show that the State ministry had weak linkage with universities (M=1.31)<br>and the research institutes (M=1.37). Suggestions to address the challenges are increased<br>budgetary allocation (54.5%), training and retraining of staff (58.2%), constant recruitment<br>(36.4%), funding for research work and facilities (32.7%). <br></p>

Project Overview