Access and Utilization of Agricultural Information among Rural Poultry Farmers in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the level of access and utilization of agricultural information among rural household poultry farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. The study described the socio-economic features of respondents and ascertained their level of access and utilization of agricultural information. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 144 respondents from the three agricultural zones in Imo State and data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings showed that respondents had access to agricultural information on broiler/meat production (68.1%), feed formulation (62.5%), pest and disease control (56.2%), nutritional education (52.8%), production input (52.1%) and market information (44.4%) each. Furthermore, respondents utilized agricultural information accessed on broiler/meat production (65.5%), feed formulation (59.7%), pest and disease control (56.9%), production input (52.8%), nutrition education (45.1%) and market information (42.4). Pooled result showed that the rural poultry farmers had low access to agricultural information (45.1%) and average utilization of agricultural information (50.6%). The study, therefore, recommended that training programmes be conducted based on farmers’ identified needs, in a manner that will encourage them to attend, taking into consideration timing, duration, location and language. Extension agents should also intensify efforts to disseminate agricultural information to rural farmers and regularly monitor the poultry farmers to ensure that they utilize such information that would improve their production.