ABSTRACT

The researcher assessed the accessibility and utilization of Post-Harvest Technology (PHT) information by women for effective Agro-based Entrepreneurship in Abia State, Nigeria. This study was, therefore, conducted in Abia State to: identify the PHT information needs of the Women Agro-based Entrepreneurs (WAE); find the extent of awareness of PHT information by these WAE; ascertain the extent of accessibility and utilization of PHT information by the WAE; find out the PHT information sources accessed and utilized by the WAE; highlight  the PHT information preferred by the WAE and proffer suggestions for improving accessibility of PHT to the women for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in the study area. Data were collected from a sample of 264 women respondents from a population of 2,358 registered WAE in the state with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. The collected data were analysed with relevant descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that both the younger aged (20-45 years) and older aged (≥ 46 years) women agro-based entrepreneurs in the state have the same PHT information needs with no significant difference  (P ≥ 0.05) in all the mean responses of the two groups of women after hypotheses testing. The recorded high extent of awareness of PHT information amongst these women came from internet, information officers, extension agents, family members and peers with the awareness of PHT information from community libraries and reading of books rated low. Though the WAE generally had substantial access to different types of PHT information, the highly utilized ones were those on consumer choice, food packaging, storage of agricultural products, handling of agricultural produce, post-harvest loss prevention and preservation of harvested crops while the ones that had low extent of utilization included: value addition/ processing, quality standards, commodity distribution, marketing regulations and PHT credit facilities. The preferred PHT information sources by the WAE in the study area include: radio, television, mobile phones, social media, family members, colleagues, information officers, extension agents, internet, group meetings and research annual technical reports. The respondents in the study area generally agreed that the use of the local language in the delivery of PHT information, establishment of more community libraries and information centres, regular visits by extension agents, regular training workshops and more radio and television programmes and/or channels dedicated to PHT information would improve the accessibility and utilization of PHT information by WAE in the state. Finally, it is recommended that librarians and information scientists should not only collaborate with other professionals and stakeholders (governmental and non-governmental) to provide relevant material assistance to WAE but should also repackage PHT information in the forms that will enhance their accessibility and utilization by the WAE for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State and areas with similar culture and agro ecology.