INFORMATION NEEDS AND INFORMATION SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF VEGETABLE FARMERS IN OJO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF LAGOS STATE.
ABSTRACT
This work “Information needs and information seeking behaviour of vegetable farmers” which focuses on the vegetable farmers as information users was carried out using 100 questionnaires in order to ascertain the information needs and information seeking behaviour of vegetable farmers. The barrier to information flow to them was also identified. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The result showed that the vegetable farmers do not have access to adequate information because the local government, who thus responsibility rests on, have been inefficient. Recommendations such as; organizing workshop, seminars and agricultural programmes, agricultural extension workers etc. to educate the vegetable farmers were made to ameliorate the situation.
TABLE OF CONTENT
PAGES
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract vi
Table of Content vii
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 4
1.3 Objective of the Study 5
1.4 Hypotheses of the Study 6
1.5 Justification of the Study 7
1.6 Definition of Terms 7
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Sources of Information in Agriculture 9
2.2 The Needs for Information by Vegetables 11
2.3 Information Seeking Behaviour of Farmer 17
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction 23
3.1 Area of Study 23
3.2 Population of the Study 24
3.3 Sampling Procedure and Sample Size 25
3.4 Questionnaire as Instrument for
Data Collection 26
3.5 Validation of Instrument
Independent Variable 28
3.6 Measurement of Variable 28
3.7 Data Analysis 30
3.8 Measurement of Variables 30
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Age 33
4.1.1 Sex 35
4.1.2 Level of Education 36
4.1.3 Religion 36
4.1.4 Marital Status 37
4.1.5 Type of Vegetation/ Cultivation 37
4.2 Table 4.2 39
4.3 Table 4.3 40
4.4 Testing of Stated Hypothesis 42
4.4.1 Hypothesis 1 42
4.4.2 Hypothesis 2 44
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary 46
5.2 Conclusion 48
5.3 Retain 49
References 51
Appendix 57
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Information is one of the basic human needs after air, water, food and shelter, and could be said to be one of the basic necessities of life (Stanley 2000). Also, Camble (2002) posited that man requires information to be able to manipulate factors of production such as Land, labour and Capital resources into meaningful and productive use. Adedoyin (2003) noted that a steady flow of accurate, understandable and factual information links the scientist with farmers, in which for any true agricultural progress, farmers must know, understand, how far people progress in whatever they are doing depends largely upon the availability and access to accurate and reliable information.
Information need identification is the first step in the development of any information activity and provides many things for the farmer. The analysis determines the information content and how deficient farmers are in these contents and the sequence of tasks provides the sequence of information activity Morris and Stillwell (2004) suggested that farmers are in the best position to determine whether any information is of greater value to meet their needs. Information is one of the most valuable resources in the rural development (Morrow, et. al 2004) and can assist small scale farmers take informed decisions and appropriate action (Harris, et al 2003).
A vegetable is an edible plant, or its parts, intended for cooking or eating raw. The non-biological definition of vegetable is largely based on culinary and cultural tradition. Apart from vegetables, other main types of plant food are fruits, grains and nuts.
Vegetables are most often consumed as salad or cooked in savory or salty dishes, while culinary fruits are usually sweet and used for dessert, but it is not the universal rule. Therefore, the division is somewhat arbitrary, based on the cultural views. For example, some people consider mushrooms to be vegetables, even though they are not plants, biologically.
Some vegetables can be consumed raw, while some, must be cooked to destroy certain natural toxins or microbes, in order to be edible. A number of processed food items available on the market contain vegetable ingredients, and can be referred to as ‘vegetable-derived products. These products may or may not maintain the nutritional integrity of the vegetable used to produce them. The nutritional content of vegetables varies considerably, though generally they contain little protein or fats and varying proportions of vitamins, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and Vitamin B6, Provitamins, dietary minerals, and carbohydrates. Vegetables contain a variety of other phytochemicals, some of which have been claimed to have anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties. Some vegetables also contain fiber, important for gastrointestinal functions, as well as other important nutrients necessary for healthy hair and skin.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Vegetable production poses many challenges for small-scale farmers who require assistance to law, financial assistance, and access to input and output market. Aina (2004) also observe that the poor access to information and training by these categories of farmers was due to the initial policy formulation of which was mainly directed at arable crops. Even when exposed to information, cursory observation revealed that most information disseminated by ADPs and other related institutions are usually given without needs identification, and this has implications for capacity-building.
Similarly, according to Ozowa (2005), “no one can categorically claim to know all the information needs of farmers, especially in an information-dependent sector like Agriculture where there are new and rather complex problems facing farmers everyday”.
This study will therefore aim to determine the information need and seek behavior &f vegetable farmers in Ojo local government Area of Lagos state with the ultimate objective of improving vegetable production as well as enhancing the standard of living of the farmers.
Therefore the study will provide answers to the following research questions.
- What are the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents?
- What are the sources of information respondents?
- What is the level of respondent’s awareness of recommended technologies?
- What are the specific information needs and information seeking behavior of the respondents?
1.3 Objective of the Study
The general objective of this study will be to determine the information needs and information seeking behavior of vegetable farmers in Ojo local government, Lagos state. The specific objectives are to:
- ascertain the socio – economic of the respondents or the vegetable farmers
- determine the source of information needs and seeking behavior of the respondents
- identify the level of respondents awareness of recommended technologies
- to ascertain the quantity of vegetable production by respondents.
1.4 Hypotheses of the Study
The hypotheses of the study will be stated in null form as follows:
HO1: There is no significant relationship between socio-economic characteristics of the vegetable farmer’s vegetable production.
HO2: There is no significant relationship between the source of information for the respondents and vegetable production.
HO3: There’s no significant relationship between farmers’ level of awareness to vegetable production.
1.5 Justification of the Study
Identifying information needs of vegetable farmers could stimulate research activities aimed at solving farmers’ problems as well as assisting agencies involved in extension service to disseminate and discern appropriate information programme for the farmers. This is because competency in various aspects of cultivation of the crop considering the huge potential could contribute to the poverty alleviation policy of Government through improved income of rural farmers.
1.6 Definition of Terms
Information: This is the fact provided or what is conveyed or represented either as the content of the message or through direct or indirect observation of something
Needs: A motivating force that compels action for its satisfaction or a requirement, necessary duty, or obligation and a condition or situation in which something is required or wanted.
Behaviour: A range of actions and mannerism made by organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with themselves or their environment, to various stimuli or inputs whether internal or external.
Vegetable: Vegetable is an edible plant and is used as food typically as accompaniment to meat or fish, such as cabbage, potato, carrot, bean intended for cooking or eaten raw.
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