Utilization of Agricultural Information by Rural Farmers For Improved Agricultural Productivity In Umudike:- Uduma Chinyere O

ABSTRACT

This study examines the utilization of agricultural information sources by rural farmers for improved agricultural productivity in Umudike. It highlights the information sources needed by rural farmers and the extent of usage of these information sources by rural farmers in Umudike in Abia State of Nigeria. The research design adopted for the study was descriptive survey method. The population of the study consisted of 388 farmers drawn from Umudike and a sample random sampling of 700 farmers drawn the population. Questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. 388 questionnaires was distributed and 322 was returned. The total return rate 95.3%. Method of data analysis adopted vzas simple percentage, frequency table and mean score. The study listed information resources used by farmers like how to get place to farm, manure, machete, loan from farmers bank, tractors etc. it adopted five purpose ofthe study and a corresponding research questions, which tends to find out the types of resources that are available to farmers. Utilization of agricultural information sources by rural farmers for improved agricultural productivity, the perception of information sources on farm performance of farmers, factors that hinder the use of agricultural information sources. The study finds out that there are various agricultural information sources that are. available to farmers in Umudike. These agricultural information sources are not 11 the respondent of this study. This means that the farmers can have access to research articules and professional publications published in agricultural format.