ABSTRACT

The study was designed to assess the organizational commitment of extension agents (EAs) in Imo state ADP. The study also highlighted the relationship between selected personal characteristics and organizational commitment statements of the extension agents. There were only 91 EAs in Imo state ADP and during the period of data collection Data were purposively collected from these EAs for the study, using a structured questionnaire. Percentages, frequency tables, mean scores and Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient were used in analysing the data. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was also used to test the hypothesis. The findings of the study indicate that, 45% of the EAs were within the age bracket of 41 to 50 years. The mean age of the EAs was 42 years, implying that a greater proportion of the EAs in Imo state ADP were of middle age. Majority (78%) of the EAs are males, about 42% had Bachelor's Degree certificates and majority (60.4%) of the EAs had household size of 4 to 7. Greater proportion of the EAs agreed with many of the organizational commitment statements such as always proud to talk to others about the organization, caring about the fate of the organization, and so on. Age (r = -0.29, P<0.01) and years of extension experience (r = -0.26, P><0.05) were negatively and significantly correlated with organizational commitment. The hypothesis of no significant relationship between selected personal characteristics and organizational commitment of EAs was therefore rejected.. It is recommended that younger people and less experienced extension agents should be encouraged to work in the organization by improving their working conditions, for example, giving motorcycles to those of them that do not have, regular payment of salaries, realistic fund for farm trials and field days as well as promotion opportunities, housing allowance to the EAs.