Utilization of agricultural information among literate women in Ihiagwa Autonomous Community Owerri, Nigeria

Abstract

The study x-rayed the utilization of agricultural information among women in Ihiagwa Autonomous Community (IHC), Owerri West Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria. The study population comprised of literate women in the communities studied and data was collected using questionnaire. A total of 160 women were purposively selected from the eight (8) communities of which 79.4 per cent representing 127 literate women returned their filled questionnaire. The findings revealed that literate women in Ihiagwa autonomous community have need for agricultural information. More so, the type of agricultural information required by literate women in rural areas are the prices of goods and services, wholesale and retail spots for agricultural goods. The sources of agricultural information that literate women accessed include word-of-mouth, friends and radio. The benefits derived from utilizing agricultural information include having access to current and timely agricultural information, adequate and accuracy of information and access to varied agricultural materials. It was also revealed that the rural women studied are satisfied with the sources of agricultural information. Challenges affecting effective utilization of agricultural information as revealed in the study includes lack of awareness of agricultural extension services, irregular power supply that prevent people from listening to news, lack of access to computers and other ICTs facilities as well as non-existence of community library services. Provision of agricultural extension services, provision of relevant materials bearing agricultural information, reorientation of rural women as well as training / retraining of rural literate women on ICTs utilization were the recommendations made.

Keywords: Utilization; Agricultural Information; Women; Ihiagwa Autonomous Community, Nigeria.