AN INAUGURAL LECTURE BY PROFESSOR FRANKLIN EZIHO NLERUM
The title of this inaugural lecture was inspired by the fact that Nigerian agricultural research stations have developed and continue to develop efficient agricultural technologies that improve farmers’ production. Many of these inventions are rotting away in research stations’ shelves and data banks. As they are unaware that these technologies exist, farmers are unable to access them. Rural sociology and rural development practitioners, who are agricultural extension workers and are responsible for introducing new technology to farmers, are few to meet the needs of farmers in terms of knowledge dissemination and awareness building. This is the situation that inspired the title of this inaugural lecture. This inaugural lecture will cover conceptual clarifications on rural sociology, the history of rural sociology, the role of rural sociology and development practitioners in agricultural production, as well as the goals and objectives of rural development. The role of the rural area in Nigeria’s socioeconomic growth, agricultural extension, and my research contributions will also be highlighted
Full Text: Adoption of Agricultural Technologies by Farmers: A Rural Sociology and Development Perspective
