Information Dissemination on Agriculture in Nigeria: a Case of Study Anambra State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) Awka
CHAPTER ONE
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.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Agricultural Information
Having adequate and well-presented information will improve the efficiency of rural development, policies, projects and programmes. Agricultural information provision should be the basic component of rural development programmes. Oladele (2011) observed that lack of agricultural information is a key factor that has greatly limited agricultural advancement in developing countries. Thus, agricultural information interacts with, and influences, agricultural activities in a variety of ways. This tends to imply that agricultural information can help inform decision-making regarding land, labour, livestock, capital and management. Interestingly, agricultural information is not static but, instead, needs replenishment through research and development. This is why Opara (2008) reports that agricultural activities can arguably be improved by relevant, reliable and useful information and knowledge. Aina (1995), Mooko and Aina (2007) and others have reported in their research findings that agricultural information is an essential recipe for successful farming. One therefore sees that these same recipes can be used by Nigerian famers to increase productivity. However, information per se cannot increase productivity unless farmers are provided with the right type of information and at the right time, using the right channels and with all other necessary components in place, like telecommunication facilities, good roads, education, good agricultural policies. There appears to be other externalities that have to be in place so that information can make an impact. These significant externalities include such things as money, favourable socio-political stability, good governance, etc. (Radhankrishna, 2007). Invwieri (2007) opined that, rural people (farmers) who are mainly illiterate require access to appropriate information to be able to make decisions and participate fully in the national development processes, including agriculture.
Information Generation Output and Types
Information generation is a process of creating, developing and communicating ideas which are abstract, concrete or visual. It is important to emphasize that the type of information generated revolve around scientific, commercial and legal information (Ballantyne, 2008; Demiryurek et al., 2009; Aina, 1995, Kaniki, 1995).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine information dissemination on Agriculture in Nigeria. Agricultural development programme in Anambra state form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain information dissemination on agriculture in Nigeria. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of information dissemination on agriculture in Nigeria
Summary
This study was on Information Dissemination On Agriculture In Nigeria: A Case Of Study Anambra State Agricultural Development Programme (Adp) Awka. Three objectives were raised which included: To determine the role of information in Agricultural Development in Nigeria, to test the justification for investing Agricultural Information, to determine various sources of information flows, to determine whether the research finding disseminated accomplish the target goal among farmers and to identify the effect of information in agriculture productivity. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from Agricultural development programme in Anambra State. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
The essence of agricultural libraries are to provide and disseminate agricultural information to users on demand and as when due. These enable librarians in agricultural libraries to play the role of information providers especially on the latest discoveries in agriculture which would help farmers to produce farm crops at their optimum for sustainable development. The study highlighted the importance of technology applications in providing and disseminating agricultural information with emphasis on mobile phones as one of the viable techniques of information provision and dissemination to rural farmers. Farmers can now receive information that could enhance their productivity in terms of goods produced and how such goods could be preserved for a long period of time. The college of agriculture library, needs to adopt the use of ICTs applications in providing and disseminating information to the patrons especially the farmers on the new innovations in the field of agriculture.
Recommendation
- Management of the agricultural libraries should acquire agricultural information resources such as indexing and abstracting journals, fact sheets, Internet services and elibrary, electronic resources such as e-books, e-journals and audio-visual resources.
- Management of agricultural libraries should adopt the method of use of latest technologies such as Smart Phones, ICTs based information dissemination models, CD- 14 ROM, Radio, Television, Computer show case etc. Other methods like reference services and outreach services (i.e. paying home visit to farmers and other patrons).
- Management of the agricultural libraries should employ the strategies for enhancing dissemination of agricultural information such as provision of relevant and current documented sources in the library, provision of ICTs based information dissemination models, provision of reference services, use of mass media and outreach services such as paying timely visit to farmers and other patrons
References
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