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Utilization Of Information Among Arable Crop Farmers
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1.4 Hypotheses for the Study
There
is no significant relationship between socio-economic characteristics
of respondents and motivational factors for their use of agricultural
information sources.
Motivational factors do not significantly affect
respondents’ preference and frequency of use of ICTs agricultural
information sourcing.
There is no significant relationship between
respondent awareness level, adoption technology and the constraints
faced in arable crop farming.
There is no significant relationship
between socio-economic characteristics of respondent and the constraints
faced in arable crop farming.
There is no significant relationship
between the respondents’ socio-economic characteristics and constraints
faced in the use of information sources.
1.5 Justification
This
study was primarily necessitated by the advantages inherent in the roles
played by arable crop farmers in the growth of agricultural economy and
how effective communication of agricultural technology can enhance the
productivity of arable crop farmers’ operators.
Developing
technologies for arable farm operators to adopt is not enough, but
effort should be geared towards making arable farm operators to
understand the importance of utilization of improved technologies. To
bring about agricultural development, the provision of agricultural
information plays a decisive role. Presently besides the indigenous farm
experience, Government designed programs contribute to provide
agricultural information in order to improve the yield of arable crop
producer hence giving the farmers a better life.
All development
carriers like extension services, NGOs and other development agencies
involved in agricultural development, especially in resettlement
program, must be aware of the need to understand the constraints and
factors influencing the level of the access to and utilization of
agricultural information and understand the gaps to take remedial
action. The importance of agriculture in the economy of Nigeria is
profound. Despite the growth of industries, oil and commerce it
continues to be the principal economic activity of the people of
Nigeria. Thus 70% of the people are engaged in agriculture but more than
70% of these farms at subsistence level (Okubanjo, 1990; Nigeria
millennium Development Report, 2004). The Food and Agriculture
Organization, FAO (1993) suggested that in order to enhance agricultural
development, new commodities and new methods of production must be
developed. In Nigeria, there are various agencies, research institutes,
agricultural universities/colleges and non-governmental organizations
that generate innovations and improved farm practices or technologies
(Ilevbaoje, 1998). The primary function of the dissemination component
(agricultural extension, agricultural change agencies, private extension
organizations, etc.) is the transformation of the agricultural sector
of the national economy through promotion of rapid adoption and
utilization of improved farming technologies by the utilization
component – the farmers (Ilevbaoje, 1998).
According to CTA (1996), Ozowa (1997) and Conroy (2003) the quantum of
agricultural
technology information available in the Nigerian systems developed by
research institutes and faculties of agriculture in universities is
quite enormous. The problem therefore, lies with effective dissemination
of information about these innovations by the dissemination agencies.
Research institutes must disseminate their findings to the target group –
the farmers, while receiving feed back to indicate that communication
was successful. The feedback is expected to expose areas requiring
modification or further enquiry. Agricultural information disseminated
by different information sources need to be determined. It is imperative
therefore to identify the sources of agricultural information utilized
by farmers.
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