Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
This article presents Findings of a study conducted to explore the role of extension workers in the provision of information to small-scale farmers in Oji-River Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria.
The study made use of the survey techniques to collect data from the respondents. A total of 50 farmers were surveyed from a population of 262.
The result produced 25 respondents by purposive sampling who were actively involved in the extension programme representing 50% response rate.
The study revealed that farmers required a variety of information for their various agricultural activities as per application of fertilizers, seed treatment, control of pests and diseases as well as the production technology. The study established that several problems hinder farmers to adequately utilize information to improve their farming. These problems include poor definition needs, poor access to information, inappropriate media and lack of capacity to use modern technology. The study recommended that information needs of farmers could be ameliorated by targeting research to those needs of the farmers, improving the mode of information dissemination, a continuous evaluation/assessment of farmers' information needs, regular training/education for farmers to enhance their economic activities.
Although the study was limited to the provision of information to small scale farmers in Oji-River Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria, it is believed that the outcome of this investigation has added another empirical knowledge to the existing literature in the field to benefit researchers, extension workers and all stakeholders in agricultural extension organizations within Africa and other Asian countries of the world.