Farmers’ Perceived Agricultural Information Needs in Paikoro LGA of Niger State

Abstract

This study evaluated the perceived agricultural information needs of farmers in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. It provided insight into the demographic information of the 150 respondents, determined the perceived agricultural information needs of the farmers, and evaluated the relationship between farmers’ demographic information and their agricultural information needs. The results of the study revealed that the respondents were still in their active and productive age, mean age was 40 years, majority (72.0%) were married with a mean household of seven persons. Also, majority (73.3%) had one form of formal education or the other with an average farming experience of 16 years. The study showed that the information needs of the farmers were: credit facilities (100%), method of fertilizer application (91.33%), disease/pest controls (77.33%), improved variety (76%), pesticides (68.67%), equipment/tools (67.33%), soil management/planting techniques (64.67%), transportation (51.33) government agricultural intervention (44%), and market information (40%). The Pearson correlation analysis revealed that education, level and farming experience had significant effect on agricultural information needs of farmers in the study area. It was hence recommended that government agencies and other organizations that provide agricultural extension and advisory services should identify and build the capacity of Community Based Advisors (CBAs) in communities so that these CBAs can then serve as contact farmers for information dissemination in their various communities.