Information Dissemination On Agriculture In Nigeria
[A CASE OF STUDY ANAMBRA STATE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (ADP) AWKA]

1.2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF ANAMBRA STATE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Historical background:- Background study of agricultural development programme: Anambra state agricultural development programme (ASADEP), was inaugurated 5th, 1985 as one of the multi-state agricultural development project (MSADP-1) made up to the South East States.

A tripartite arrangement between the World Bank, FGNANSG ensures proper finding for ASADEP. No wonder in 1986, the federal government signed a loan agreement of USD 162 million for all MSADP-I which at present includes the following states: Anambra, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Plateau and Benue.

Old Anambra state (Anambra and Enugu States) got USD 22.4 million. That loan was terminated at June 30th 1995. There was an IFAA (International food and agricultural development). Loan of about USD 1.5 million expired in June 1997. Following the creation of state in Auguest 27, 1991 old Anambra state bifurcated into Anambra and Enugu states. It thus became necessary to restructure the former Anambra ADP and to establish two ADPS from the new territories. The World Bank provided fund for the creation of new headquarter builder in Anambra State. In January 1992, the present ASADP moved from Enugu to temporary office at Enugu –Ukwu. It was later moved to its own multi-naira magnificent headquaters office complex. In October 1995, the edifice is located on kilometer 41, Enugu-Onitsha express Awka.

The broad objective is to improve the standard of living and welfare of the rural smell-scales/holder farmer, throughout the state of raising by their productivity and farm income, via integrated rural development.

1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM 

Despite government effort to promote food production in Nigeria-through the use of various policy and programme, it appears that the efforts are yet to yield enough result. Village farmers are still lacking information about the latest research findings even where available, many still have no access to it. Government is bombarding public eardrum with slogans and platitudes: operation feed the nation, green revolution, self reliance-lots of publication in different forms like journals, books and bulletin were produced and circulated among organization agricultural productivity at the village level is still at the low ebb. The impact of new research finding is yet to be filed at the village level. Farmers are yearning for new technology that will enhance their productivity. Information for development is not to be advantages of the rural farmers the problems militating against effective dissemination of information to farmers are:

 Lack of adequate and prompt fund for public awareness activities, lack of adequate and undated materials for research purposes, communication barrier, topography, wrong perception of researchers towards farmer illiteracy and superiority complex of research over farmers. In order to find out place of information in agricultural development, an analytical research of this nature is necessary and data gathered  will provide empirical evidence that will guide policy makers, students, researchers, extension workers and development bank officers for formulation new and better policy.

1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY 

i. To determine the role of information in Agricultural Development in Nigeria.

ii. To test the justification for investing Agricultural Information.

iii. To determine various sources of information flows 

iv. To determine whether the research finding disseminated accomplish the target goal among farmers.

v. To identify the effect of information in agriculture productivity.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 

Any society with inhibiting human’s must be adequately informed in view of the relevance of information to every individual in all shares of life. Specially for agricultural extension staff, researchers and to entire people concerned in the society.

The finding of the study will be used to the farmers, extension workers, researchers, scientists, contract farmers, factories and plantation officers university staffs and development consultants.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY 

This research work is limited to information dissemination on agriculture in Nigeria in development of Anambra Sate agricultural development programme (ADP) Awka.

1.7 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 

i. What are the role of information in Agricultural development in Nigeria ?

ii. To what extent is justification for investigating Agricultural information?

iii. What are the various source of information flow?

iv. Do the research findings disseminated accomplish the target goal among farmers?

v. What are the effect of information in Agriculture productivity?

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

For the purpose of understanding this project work under study, the following terms are relevant to point out.
1. INFORMATION

Information as a process by which the form of an object of knowledge is impressed upon the apprehending mind so as to bring about the state of knowing it. This also includes some thing received or perceived or obtained through informing eg. knowledge communicated by other or obtained from investigation, study or instruction.

2. AGRICULTURE

Is the production of crops and animals from man’s use? In order words, agriculture is defined as the deliberate effort made by man to till the soil, cultivate crop and rear animals for food and other purposes.

3. AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION DISSEMINATION 

The National Root Crops research Institute. But unfortunately, most of these innovations do not reach the farmers field. This is because the medium for information disseminate in use are quite effective institution and government organ have been put in place to ensure that farmer get to know and adopt agricultural innovations relevant to their situation.

4. ROLE OF INFORMATION IN AGRICULTURE 

No one categorically claim to know all the information needs of farmers especially in an information depended sector like agriculture, where there are new and rather complex problems facing farmers every day. It is safe to assert that information need of Nigerian farmers revolves around the resolution of problems such as pest hazards weed control moisture insufficiency, soil fertility, farm credit, labour shortage, soil erosion and so forth.

5. APPLICATION OF AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION 

Over the year’s faculty members at university of nebraska have design computer network system for direct use by farmers along with wished agricultural specialists. There are now more than a thousand users of the system. The system disseminates/delivers information to clients located in thirty states of US and Canada.