ISSN 2736-1578
African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN 2516-9831 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 001-007, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of women farmers’ agricultural information needs and accessibility: A case study of Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria
O. J. Okwu* and B. I. Umoru
Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria.
Accepted 19 November, 2018
Abstract
The study was aimed at determining women farmers’ agricultural information needs and accessibility, using Apa local government area of Benue State as a case study. A sample size of 70 women farmers was initially taken for the study but only data for 65 respondents were analyzed. Simple random sampling technique was used for the sample selection and questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The result showed highest information needs in the areas of pesticides and fertilizer applications and improved farm implements. Husbands, fellow women and mass media were the main sources of agricultural information to women farmers and accessibility of information from these sources was relatively high. Age, educational level and income of women farmers showed significant relationships with their accessibility to agricultural information at 5% level of significance. It is recommended that enough information should be provided in the needed areas and women adult literacy and economic empowerment programmes should be given serious attention to enhance their access to needed agricultural information.
Key words: Applications, questionnaire, Benue, empowerment.