Abstract
The study examined information needs of sesame farming households in selected agricultural zones of Katsina state, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting 170 sesame farmers across Katsina state. Data were obtained with the aid of a well-structured interview schedule, and analyzed using percentages, mean, chi-square and PPMC. Results revealed that average age, household size and farm size were 39±11.5, 9.11±5.7 and 2.00±1.78 respectively. Majority were males (95.0%), married (89.3%) and had Quranic education (64.3%). Sesame farmers got information through personal experience ( 2.65), radio/television ( 2.12) as well as friends and neighbour ( 2.09). The most important information needs of respondents were on improved seed varieties ( 2.77), fertilizer and manure application ( 2.75), better storage strategies ( 2.68) and agricultural insurance ( 2.67). The following constraints to accessing information on sesame production were identified, including inadequate extension contact ( 1.92), poor communication network ( 1.87) and lack of agricultural-based television programmes ( 1.68). Farm size (r = -0.178, p = 0.036) had significant relationship with respondents’ information needs. There is the need for extension programme to be revitalized in Katsina State with the aim of addressing the common needs of farmers on economically important crops such as sesame. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n1s1p204
Highlights
Sesame or benniseed is a tropical annual plant that is remarkably produced for its seeds and oil
The finding reveals that the mean age (Table 2) was 38 years, as 32.9% and 25.7% were aged 31-40 and 21-30 years respectively. This result implies that most sesame farmers are within their economically active ages and are very agile
The study shows that the respondents are young with large family size that requires appropriate information provision to expand their small scale sesame production
Summary
Sesame or benniseed is a tropical annual plant that is remarkably produced for its seeds and oil. Purseglove, (1996) reported that its original area of domestication is tropical Africa, where greatest genetic diversity exists and from where it spread to India a port of sesame secondary diversity development. Other names of sesame as captured by Abu, Ater and Abah (2012) include: “simsim” in East Africa, “Till” in India and “Gingely” in Sri-Lanka, “Ridi”, “Ekuku” and “Isasa” in Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba tribes of Nigeria respectively. In Nigeria, sesame is becoming an important component of Nigeria’s agricultural exports given its current rate of cultivation. Today, both the white and brown types are commonly grown by smallholder farmers in Nasarawa, Jigawa and Benue States (Raw Materials Research Development Council (RMRD) 2004). Others are Yobe, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Gombe and Plateau States
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