FACTORS INFLUENCING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SHARING AMONG RURAL FARMERS IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed factors influencing sharing of indigenous knowledge among rural farmers in South-South Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 360 farmers. Data collection was through structured questionnaire and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics such as mean and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression. The result reveals that sharing between two or more farmers ( = 3.9), parents/guardian/friends ( = 3.8), participation ( = 3.8), observation ( = 3.7), farmer’s groups ( = 3.7), demonstration ( = 3.4), social group gathering ( = 3.4), village groups/age grades ( = 3.4), village meetings ( = 3.4) among others were the major ways farmers share knowledge. The study also revealed that farm income ( = 4.05), access to information ( = 4.01), land tenure system ( = 3.91), literacy level ( = 3.88), awareness of knowledge sharing need ( = 3.83), access to credit ( = 3.79), farming experience ( = 3.72), age ( = 3.46), gender ( = 3.40) and marital status ( = 3.26) were perceived factors that influenced indigenous knowledge sharing. The Ordinary Least Square regression analysis revealed that participation (2.978***), social network (3.096***), infrastructure (2.423**) and farm income (2.105**) significantly influenced the sharing at 1% and 5% significance levels respectively. From the findings, it was concluded that indigenous knowledge sharing was influenced by participation, social network, and infrastructure and farm income. The study recommended State Ministries of Agriculture and extension agencies to assist the rural farmers by organizing demonstrations and coordinating farmer groups which would enable them improve the sharing of their indigenous knowledge