Enhancing Information Service Delivery to Farmers: A Study of Enugu East Senatorial Zone of Nigeria

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1 Enhancing Information Service Delivery to Farmers: A Study of Enugu East Senatorial Zone of Nigeria Amaoge Dorathy Agbo Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Nigeria oge_dorathy@yahoo.com ABSTRACT: This study analyzed the benefits associated with information service delivery to farmers in Enugu East Senatorial Zone of Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was used for the study with a population of 5,000 farmers. The sample size of 0 (10%) of the population was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire and an observation checklist. Percentage, mean scores, and frequency tables were used in analyzing the data. The findings showed that the following information services are rendered to communities under study: review of newspapers, review of books, review of magazines, table of content, current awareness service, selective dissemination of information, and film shows. It also revealed that the benefits that can be derived from effective information service delivery include: improvement to farmers income and livelihood, up-to-date farming technique, prevailing market conditions, prevention of food shortage, promotion of modern agricultural development, adjustment of the structure of the agricultural industry, reduction of cost, enhancement of the degree of market organization, and enhancement of the international competitiveness of agricultural products. I. Introduction Enugu State is one of the 36 states in Nigeria. The State is bounded on the northeast by Ebonyi State, on the north by Benue State and Kogi State, on the south by Abia State, and on the west by Anambra State, from which it was carved out in Administratively, Enugu State is divided into 19 local government areas. But politically, there are three zones, namely, Enugu North, Enugu South, and Enugu East. Communities in Enugu East Zone include Ibagwa Nike, Amaoji, Edem, Amaokpu, Alulu, Nneokpa, Eziams, Onyohu, and Ama-owere. About 85% of the rural population in Enugu East is engaged in the agricultural sector, characterized largely by smallholdings of less than one hectare. Predominant food crops include cassava, yam, maize, rice, pigeon pea, Barbara nuts, cocoyam, and cowpea. The major perennial tree crops are oil palm, citrus, pear, and cashew. These are supplemented with small-scale livestock farming such as poultry, small ruminants, and indigenous cattle. Information is crucial in improving the living standard of farmers in the rural communities. Access to library and information service is necessary for technological and socio-economic growth in the rural communities. Societies, as a whole, cannot survive if they are not properly

2 informed about the recent developments both locally and internationally. Hence, information and communication is important to farmers in the rural communities as they will contribute to higher productivity, better crop yielding, improved health, and appropriate marketing conditions. The extents to which these benefits can be reaped depend much on the services libraries and information centers can offer to the farmers in the rural communities. II. Literature Review Information is one of the most valuable resources in rural development. It can assist farmers make informed decisions and take appropriate action to further organize farming and marketing. Information service, on the other hand, focuses on information need of users. It is a personal service or assistance provided to users in pursuit of information. The depth and characteristics of such services vary with the type of information agencies and the kind of users it is designed to serve. Akonobi (1990) posited that these services range from answering an apparent simple query to supplying information based on bibliographical search, combining the librarian or information specialist competence in research and the subject under investigation (p. 43). On the same note, Debowski (03) opined that information services are aimed at achieving the following six key outcomes: Ensuring that the needs of users and the accessible information sources are suitably matched at all times Delivering those information sources to the users in a timely and appropriate fashion Ensuring that the information provided is of high quality, accurate and appropriate Assisting the users in interpreting the materials if necessary Promoting user awareness of new services and information sources as they develop Providing users with individualized guidance and support as they build their information search and application skills. (p. 2626). Information service delivery can be carried out through various forms, channels or strategies such as indexes, photocopying and pasting of table of content, abstracting services, mobile phone SMS, extension services, leaflets, newsletters, posters, exhibits, visual aids, and the internet, in which re-organized information is communicated to users for their information needs. Ochogwu (07) identified five agencies through which information services can be delivered to users: archives, information and documentation centers, mass media, information brokerage firms and libraries (p. ). These agencies have increased special services designed to meet the needs of a particular user group by providing special types of information. Gakuru, Winters, and Stepman (09) argued that 33

3 If innovative farmer information systems respond to specific farmers requirements and benefit the farmers, mobile providers, researchers and input/market providers alike, there is a better chance for increased sustainability. For instance, when the back-end of the farmer information system contains a call centre, the farmer information system can implement farmers feedback to be used for localization and respond to specific farmers requirements such as language and specific products. The SMS platform can be used for alerts, targeted to provide farmers with specific information, thereby creating demand. (p. 11) Chen and Zhou (06) identified that agricultural information played six key roles in promoting modern agricultural development: converting from traditional to knowledge agriculture, adjusting the structure of the agricultural industry, reducing costs and increasing income, enhancing the degree of market organization, enhancing the international competitiveness of agricultural products and improving the quality of farmers' lives, thereby promoting social progress (p. ). Adero (09) also noted that agro-based organizations could provide information to help farmers update farming techniques or indicate prevailing market conditions that could help prevent future food shortages. III. Objectives of the Study The broad aim of the study is to examine the benefits associated with effective information service delivery to farmers. The specific objectives are as follows: 1. Analyze the available information services rendered to farmers in Enugu East Senatorial Zone; 2. Identify the benefits associated with effective information service delivery to farmers. IV. Scope of the Study The scope of the study encompasses the benefits associated with effective information service delivery to farmers in Enugu East Senatorial Zone. However the study has the following limitations: 1. The study is limited to Enugu East Senatorial Zone of Nigeria. 2. The study includes only the farmers. 3. The study is limited to the benefits associated with effective information service delivery. V. Research Methodology A descriptive survey design was used for the study with a population of 5,000 farmers. The population for this study consists of farmers in the six communities that make up Enugu East Senatorial Zone: Isi-Uzo, Enugu-East, Enugu-South, Enugu-North, Nkanu-West, and Nkanu- East. According to Fadama Cooperative Associations Register (08), there are 5,000 registered 34

4 farmers in the senatorial zone: 8 (Isi-Uzo), 0 (Enugu-East), 0 (Enugu-South), 8 (Enugu-North), 900 (Nkanu-West), and 900 (Nkanu-East). The sample size of 0 (10%) of the population was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire and an observation checklist. Percentage, mean scores and frequency were used in analyzing the data. VI. Data Analysis Table 1. Distribution and return rate of the questionnaire Enugu Enugu Enugu Isi- Nkanu Nkanu Total East North South Uzo East West Sample population Returned copies Return rate Table 1 shows that the return rate for Enugu North, Isi-Uzo, and Nkanu East is 100% respectively, followed by Enugu-South (96%), Nkanu West (90%), and Enugu East (85%). A total of 476 copies of the questionnaire were returned and correctly filled. A percentage score of % was used as the benchmark. Service Type Table 2. Information services rendered to farmers in Enugu East Senatorial Zone Name of Community Enugu East Enugu North Enugu South Isi-Uzo Nkanu East Nkanu West Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Preparation of Bibliography Review Journals Review Reports Review Thesis Review Newspaper 42 (%) 28 (40%) 33 (39.8%) (87.5%) 10 (12.5%) (72.2%) (27.3%) (78.3%) 18 (21.7%) (33.3%) (66.7%) Review Magazine (71.4%) (90.4%) 8 (9.6%) (81.3%) 15 (18.1%) (84.3%) 13 (15.7%) 55 (73.3%) (26%) Review Books (85.7%) 10 (14.3%) (81.3%) 15 (18.6%) Cataloguing Preparation of List of Table of Content Dubbing Video Dubbing Audio 33 Cassette (47.1%) 5 (71.4%) 37 (53%) (30.1%) (28%) 72 (81%) 62 (%) 58 (%) (72%) 11 (13.3%) 21 (.3%) (%) (94%) 63 (79%) 5 (6.3%) 17 (21.3%) 57 (71.3%) (28.1%) (78.3%) 53 (64%) 18 (2.2%) 30 (36.1%) (28%) (78.3%) 45 (54.2%) (39%) 18 (2.2%) 38 (46%) 51 (61%) (33.3%) (67%) (24%) 28 (37.5%) (67%) (33.3%) 52 (69.3%) 47 (63%) Preparation of Accessions List Current Awareness Service (71.4%) 17 (.5%) 63 (%) 66 (%) (24%) (40%) 16 (%) 48 (63%) 67 (%) 46 (55.4%) 72 (86.7%) 37(45%) (13.2%) (91.5%) (8.4%) 22 (29.3%) 56 (74.6%) 53 (71%) 19 (.3%) Indexing and Abstracting Service 14 (%) 56 (%) 13 (15.6%) (84.3%) 16 (%) 67 (%) 56 (67.4) 27 (.5%) (39%) 51 (61%) 40 (53.3%) 35 (46.6%) 35

5 Selective Dissemination of Information Film Shows 76 (91.5%) 7 (8.4%) (87.5%) 10 (12.3%) 63 (.9%) (24%) 54 (%) 29 (34.9%0 52 (69.3%) (30.6%) Table 2 shows the types of information services rendered to farmers in Enugu East Senatorial Zone. Of the 16 types of information services listed, 7 are rendered in Enugu East, 8 in Enugu North, 7 in Enugu South, 11 in Isi-Uzo, 8 in Nkanu East, and 7 in Nkanu West. Clearly, information services rendered to the communities are at different stages. Table 3. Responses on the benefits associated with effective information service delivery to farmers Benefits SA A D SD Mean Decision Improve farmers' income and livelihood Agree Update farming techniques Agree Indicate prevailing market conditions Agree Help prevent future food shortages Agree Promote modern agricultural development Agree Adjust the structure of the agricultural industry Agree Reduce costs Agree Enhance the degree of market organization Rejected Enhance the international competitiveness of agricultural products Agree Table 3 shows the satisfactory levels of the respondents regarding the benefits derived from effective information service delivery. Improve farmers income and livelihood, Help prevent future food shortage, and Promote modern agricultural development have a mean score of 4.0 each, followed by Indicate prevailing market conditions (3.57), Update farming techniques (3.47), Adjust the structure of the agricultural industry (3.48), Reduce costs (3.31), Enhance the international competitiveness of agricultural products (2.94). On the other hand, it shows that Enhance the degree of market organization was not seen as a benefit with a mean score of VII. Findings The importance of information in any establishment cannot be over-emphasized, as it elicits quick and accurate responses to events. The finding of this study showed that information services such as review of newspaper, review of books, review of magazines, preparation of lists of table of content, current awareness service, selective dissemination of information, and film shows are rendered to the communities under study. This finding has corroborated the argument of Afolabi (1998) that information service may involve repackaging of information (p. 26), as Zhao (04) observed that information needs of farmers is depended on their educational level, income, level of economic development in their area, information service capacity, and cost of accessing the information, including information on agricultural technology, agricultural 36

6 economics, cropping varieties, machines, production processes, product transportation, and rural policies. (p. 18) Other information services rendered to the communities under study include preparation of bibliographies, review of journals, review of reports, review of thesis, cataloguing, dubbing video, preparation of accession list, indexing and abstracting services. This supports the assertion made by Kumar (1987) that information services provided depends on the nature of information sought by users (p. ). VIII. Conclusion A large number of rural people derive their livelihood from agriculture and other related rural economic activities. The most direct and effective means of raising standards of living and alleviating poverty, hunger and, malnutrition is through increasing the productivity and incomes of smallholder agriculture. To accomplish this, adequate funds are needed to provide effective information service delivery to farmers. As equally important, adequate extension services need to be provided to farmers so that they can access relevant and up-to-date information. References Adero, B. (09). Nokia launches information service for farmers in Kenya. Retrieved from Afolabi, M. (1998). Knowledge base for cataloguing and indexing libraries in democratic culture in NLA information for sustenance of a democratic culture. A compendium of papers presented at the 1999 NLA annual national conference and AGM held in port-harcourt, May 8-14, 1998 (pp ). Akonobia, R. (1990). Integrated rural development in Nigeria: The Anambra State experience. In Ikechukwu Nwosu (Ed.), Mass communication and national development: Perspectives on the communication environments of development in Nigeria. Aba, Imo State, Nigeria: Frontier Publishers. Chen, L.; & Zhou, L. (06). The important role of agricultural information technology on agricultural development. China Agricultural Science and Technology Guide, 8, 57-. Debowski, S. (03). Services to remote library users. In Miriam A. Drake (Ed.), Encyclopedia of library and information science (2 nd ed., pp ). New York: Marcel Dekker. Gakuru, M.; Winters, K.; & Stepman, F. (09). Innovative farmer advisory services using ICT. In Selected Papers of the W3C Workshop Africa Perspective on the Role of Mobile 37

7 Technologies in Fostering Social Development (April 1-2, 09, Maputo, Mozambique). Retrieved from Kumar, K. (1987). Reference services (5 th ed.). New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House. Munyua, H. (07). ICTs and small-scale agriculture in Africa: A scoping study. Ottawa, Canada: International Development Research Centre. Retrieved from Ochogwu, M. G. (07). The internalities and externalities of library and information delivery services in Nigeria by the year 15. Nigerian Libraries, 40(1), Zhao, Y. (04). Analysis of farmers information needs in Hebei Province. Baoding, China: Economics and Management Department, Hebei Agriculture University. Author: Amaoge Dorathy Agbo, Department of Library and Information Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, Nigeria. oge_dorathy@yahoo.com Submitted to CLIEJ on October 19, 15. Copyright 15 Amaoge Dorathy Agbo Agbo, Amaoge Dorathy. (15). Enhancing information service delivery to farmers: A study of Enugu East Senatorial Zone of Nigeria. Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal, 40, -38. URL: 38