A Comparative Study of Extension Programme Benefits to Residents at Yankari National Park, Nigeria and Hluhluwe – Umfolozi Park, South Africa
*Adeleke Bola Olusola1 and Ajayi Michael Tunde2
1Department of Transport and Tourism Studies, Redeemer’s University, Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.
2 Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author’s Email: thebhozz@yahoo.co.uk
Accepted on March 5, 2007
Abstract
The study investigated and compared the extension activities and the benefits of these activities to residents at Yankari National Park (YNP), Nigeria and Hluhluwe–Umfolozi Park (UHP), South Africa. Socio-economic characteristics of residents of both parks were also examined. Data were collected from randomly selected 10 communities around Yankari National Parks and 4 communities around Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park with 8 respondents purposively selected from each community. Descriptive analysis, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Chi-square were used to analyse the data. The results show that respondents from Yankari National Park were hunters (23.8%), cattle farmers (18.7%) or unemployed (22.5%), while at Hluhluwe – Umfolozi Park; residents were mostly traders (46.9%). In Yankari National Park, extension activities were mainly community development while in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, activities were improvement of residents’ traditional skills in arts and crafts. There were significant differences between respondents in Yankari and Umfolozi Parks as regards annual income, market opportunities and economic status. While only 24.4% of respondents in Yankari National Park had improved economic status from extension activities, a higher percentage (81.3%) was obtained for Hluhluwe – Umfolozi Park. Moreover, more residents participate in decision-making of extension activities in Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park (87.5%) than in Yankari National Park (26.3%). To improve the economic status of residents around parks and to avoid conflicts, residents should be involved in the decision-making of extension activities.