Irrigation farmers motivation for participating in social networking in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

The study focused on the motivation of farmers in participating in social networking on the use of irrigations in north central Nigeria.  For the purpose of the study, social networking for this study consist of water users Association, Cooperative Societies, Agricultural  Agency, Farmers Group, Family, Neighbourhood, Religious Group, Community Based Organizations, Non- Governmental Organization and Input Suppliers that are operating within the lower Niger River Basin Authority Irrigation sites at Shonga, Oke-oyi and Ejiba in North Central Nigeria. One hundred and ninety four irrigation farmers were randomly selected from three irrigation farming areas in two states of Kwara and Kogi in north central Nigeria. Data were obtained using a structured questionnaire. The Motivation for undertaking irrigation farming and their level of participation in social networking were measured through a 4-point likert scale while the data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson product moment correlation. The findings showed that all the respondents (100%) were male, 94.6% were married and more than half (54.1%) of the respondents had no formal education, the result revealed family had the highest mean (3.86) based on their level of participation in social networking which was followed by water users association (3.82). Respondents ranked market information (2.47) as the most important contribution of social networking to the use of irrigation while Agricultural Extension Agency (2.85) was ranked as the most effective social networking in providing access to resource for irrigation farming. The result of Pearson product moment correlation revealed that there is significant relationship between their motivation for undertaking irrigation farming and their level of participation in social networking (r= 0.159; p < 0.05). Based on the findings, it is therefore recommended among others that farmers involved in irrigation farming should come together to form functional groups that can access resources for irrigation farming.

Key Words: Farmers, Irrigation, Motivation, Social Networking