Arable Crop Farmers Preference for Agricultural Information Sources and Adoption of Technology in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the accessibility of arable crop farmers to agricultural information in Edo State. A total of 180 farmers from six randomly selected communities were used for the study. Data were collected with interview schedule, only 142 interview schedule were however found useful for analysis. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study result revealed that crop farmers preferred radio as the most use channel of agricultural information (mean= 2.33). Improved seedlings and varieties was the most adopted technology. Increased yields (mean=2.34), increased income (mean=2.20) and proper use of improved varieties (mean=2.18) were found to be the major benefits derived from the use of agricultural information. Hypotheses testing of relationship showed that respondents sex (mean = 0.488), marital status (mean = 0.352) had no significant relationship with crop farmers sources of agricultural information. The study recommends the integration and mobilization of the various informal groups in the rural area in the information dissemination network of agricultural programmers, the employment and use of town carriers in the rural areas to create awareness as regards new developed agricultural technologies, the establishment of information centers at the local government headquarters.