ASSESSMENT OF FARMERS’ INFORMATION SOURCES UNDER SHELTERBELT PROJECTS IN THE FRONTLINE STATES OF NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study analyzed farmers’ information sources under shelterbelt projects in the frontline States of North Western Nigeria. The respondents used were 450. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Mean age of the respondents was 35 years; mean household size was 12 persons; mean farming experience was 12 years; and mean farm size was 6 hectares. About 67% of the respondents were married. Their sources of agricultural information of 29.1% was extension agents, radio accounted for 27.8%, family member (13.3%) and non-governmental organizations/community-based organizations (NGOs/CBOs) occupy 6.7%, print publications (4.4%) and internet (3.1%). Also, extension contact (30.0%), extension agents (25.5%) visited for two times, 18.9% were visited three (3) times, 11.1% were visited four (4) times annually, 7.8% were visited for five (5) times, and 6.7% were visited more than five (5) times annually. The results revealed that 61.1% listened to agricultural program through radio regularly.  Majority (72.2%) watched/listened to agricultural program through television once in a week, 18.9% watched/listened twice a week and; 2.2% of the respondents were regular and 6.7% were irregular. Most (40.0%) preferred to radio program as their means of communication. Group meeting (extension agents/farmers) was only 5.1%, agriculture shows/field visit/tours occupy (11.1%) and extension agents interpersonal visit (8.9%), television (7.1%), newspaper and magazine (4.4%); and journals/conference proceedings and the internet services was 2.2%, respectively. The recommended conversion of the shelterbelts to recreational parks and tourism; reducing criminal activities like Indian hemp smoking, theft and kidnapping in the belt; and also, local communities should be allowed to participate in the management and sharing of revenue from the shelterbelts.