Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Use of Information Sources among Cashew Farmers in Niger State, Nigeria

摘要

In order to ensure the adoption of appropriate technology for Cashew cultivation, farmers received information and education from different sources. However, what is not clear is the extent to which farmers utilize the various information sources. Thepurpose of the study was, therefore, to assess farmer's use of information sources and the importance or otherwise of fanners socio-economic factors in the effective utilization of the information sources. Interview schedules were used to collect data from 45 farmers randomly selected in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State. Data were collected on farmer's socio-economic characteristics and extent of the utilization of the various information sources. The data was analyzed using frequency distribution, percentages means and chi square. The result revealed that village extension agents and fann services are most often used than radio and village leaders. Sex is significant at p < 0.10 while marital status is significant, at P < 0.05, in explaining fanner's use of information sources. Age, educational status, sources of land acquisition, primary and secondary occupation, distant to home and farming experience are not significant. It is recommended that more village extension agent should be recruited, trained and given appropriate package of good agricultural practices for dissemination to farmers in cashew production. Gender issue need to be looked into critically in targeting cashew farmers on use of agricultural information.