Perception of Cassava and Maize Farmers on the Effectiveness of Agricultural Information Channels in Southwest, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the perceptions of arable crop farmers on the effectiveness of agricultural information channels on the adoption of good agricultural practices in southwest Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 300 respondents for the study. Data were collected through a structured interview schedule. Data were analysed with percentages and means. The study revealed that 94.2% and 32.6% of the respondents had access to agricultural extension and recorded audio, respectively. The results revealed that farmers, on average, ranked very high in terms of the level of access to eight out of the ten channels listed. The eight channels and their estimated mean scores as ranked by the farmers were radio (3.57), agricultural extension agent (3.54), television (3.17), and written materials (2.96). Others were telephone calls (2.87), SMS (2.82), WhatsApp (2.55), and Facebook (2.55). Low disposable income was the major (51.5%) limitation associated with the effectiveness of agricultural information channels. The effectiveness of information channels on the adoption of good agricultural practices was measured using the eight (8) indicators of effectiveness, which included openness, linkage, structure, reward, capacity, proximity, synergy, and feedback. Results showed that in all the criteria, radio and extension agents were rated as very effective