Assessment of Small Scale Women Farmers’ Information Needs and Accessibility in Kontagora Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study accessed the various information needs of small scale women farmers' and their access to the needed agricultural information in Kontagora Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria. To achieve the study objectives, 3-stage sampling technique was used to randomly select 150 respondents for the study using validated interview schedule with reliability coefficient of 0.76. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Logit regression model. The respondents were predominantly married (81.3%), while 66.7% are within their active and productive stage between 21 – 40 years. Findings further indicated that improved varieties of seeds (mean = 2.50), land management (mean = 2.45), and pest management (mean = 2.44) were the most needed information by women farmers' in the study area. Logistic regression result on factors affecting women farmers' accessibility to agricultural information revealed that educational level, cooperative membership and extension contact were statistically significant at 10%, 1% and 5% probability level, respectively. The study concludes that access to relevant information and knowledge is essential for expansion of the agricultural sector performance and increase livelihoods especially among small scale women farmers'. Therefore, it was recommended that there should be more gender sensitivity in planning and organizing extension activities thus allowing women farmers participate fully and have access to the needed agricultural information.