Agricultural Information Needs and Seeking Behaviour of Farmers in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigated agricultural information needs and seeking behaviour of farmers in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 101,559 farmers in the five communities of Aninri L.G.A. The sample size of 1,188 was used for the study which was selected through multistage sampling procedure. Questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts; the reliability of the instrument was established using test re-test method for research question 1, 3 and 4 which yielded 0.95, 0.78 and 0.7 respectively,  Cronbach alpha was used for research question 2 and 5 which yielded 0.87 and 0.88 respectively. Data was analyzed using frequency counts and mean. Frequency counts was used to answer research questions 1, 3 and 4 while mean was used to answer research question 2 and 5. Items to the values of 2.5 and above were agreed or accepted while below 2.5 were rejected. The study found out that farmers in Aninri needed agricultural information on improved seed/seedling, disease control, and weed control. Farmer’s sources for agricultural information through neighbours, fellow farmers; while farmers align to information obtain from oral discussion, neighbours/friends as their information seeking behaviour. Furthermore, illiteracy is the major hindrance farmers face in sourcing agricultural information, government at various levels should ensure adequate provision of fertilizer, improved seedlings, weed/disease control mechanism and modern technology application for farmers and the establishment of telecentres were recommended.