Investigating the Usability of Agricultural Extension Service Communication Materials in Niger State

Agricultural extension services in Niger State, North Central Nigeria, rely on printed and illustrated communication materials to disseminate technical information on crop management, pest control, and post-harvest handling to smallholder farmers. The usability of these materials, however, has rarely been systematically evaluated despite evidence from related contexts that poorly designed agricultural communication graphics significantly reduce information uptake. This study applies a mixed-methods usability research approach to assess the comprehension, relevance, and practical utility of extension communication materials distributed by Niger State Agricultural Development Programme across twelve communities in Bida, Lapai, and Suleja local government areas. Data collection combines cognitive interview sessions with sixty farmers during which participants verbalise their interpretations of selected material illustrations and text, observation of material use during extension field visits, and structured comprehension surveys with two hundred and twenty farmers. Findings reveal systemic visual communication failures including overloaded diagram complexity, culturally unfamiliar agricultural tool representations, and typographic legibility failures at typical outdoor reading distances. Extension workers confirm that materials are frequently set aside during field visits due to perceived inaccessibility. A Redesign Specification is developed for six priority material categories, incorporating simplified infographic structures, regionally familiar visual references, Nupe-language text overlays, and weatherproof material specifications. Redesigned prototypes are evaluated through follow-up comprehension assessments confirming a forty-four percent improvement in correct message retention. Keywords: agricultural communication, usability, extension services, Niger State, information design.