Influence of Sources of Agricultural Information on Maize Farmers in Southern Borno, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the influence of sources of information on maize farmers’ in southern Borno, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to examine the socio-economic characteristics of farmers in the study area and to find out the sources through which agricultural information were made available to them in the study area. Data for the study were obtained from 360 respondents selected through multi-stage sampling procedure. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used to analyze the data. The result revealed that 100.5% of the respondents sourced their agricultural information through extension agents, 58.08% sourced theirs through friends and neighbours, while 46.09% got their information through contact farmers. Based on the findings of this study it was recommended that for sustainable food security in the study area farmers should be targeted with relevant and timely agricultural information in order to boost their maize production capacity. Also, provision of information resource centers in the rural areas is of paramount importance in order to facilitate easy access to agricultural information among farmers in the study area.

Key Words: Information, Utilization, Farmers, Borno State.