AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION DISSEMINATION FOR SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL PRODUCTION TO LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN KATSINA STATE

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1 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION DISSEMINATION FOR SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL PRODUCTION TO LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN KATSINA STATE Suleiman Idris University Library, Sokoto State University, Sokoto and Lawal Umar Academy Librarian, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna Abstract This study was aimed at investigating to livestock farmers for sustainable animal production in Katsina State. In order to achieve this objective, quantitative research method was adopted, whereas survey design was employed for the study. Livestock farmers in Dandume, Daura and Jibia formed the population of the study. Cluster sampling was the sampling technique used for the study. 75 out of 6 livestock farmers were randomly selected from the livestock farmers clubs/associations in the local government areas studied in Katsina State. A structured questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. The study revealed that breeding techniques, new breed varieties, climate, access to market, credit/loan facilities, price of antibiotics, and livestock disease control were the type of agricultural information disseminated to the livestock farmers in the local government areas studied for sustainable animal production. It was also found that that radio, television, posters, interpersonal communication, co-farmers and clubs/associations were the media mostly employed for agricultural information dissemination to the livestock farmers studied. The need to introduce rural library services across Local Government Areas of Katsina State was highly recommended. Keywords: Information, dissemination, livestock farmers, animal production Introduction Agricultural Information has been identified to be important and desirable variable in the improvement of livestock production. This makes it imperative for governments and other relevant agencies to provide adequate, relevant and up-to-date information in order to transform livestock production in developing countries. Information is an indispensable factor in the practice of livestock farming and agricultural extension services delivery. Adereti (4) defines agricultural information as knowledge that has been put into a meaningful and useful context which is communicated to the generality of farmers who use it to improve their productivity. Livestock farmers need information to make informed decisions with regards to their livestock health, productivity, growth and development. Livestock farmers should therefore consciously engage in information search in order to access appropriate and relevant information needed for sustained livestock production. Statement of the problem The role of livestock farmers in animal production is immeasurable and their motivation to participate for sustainable animal production is first to contribute to household food security and income (Adebo and Ewuola, 6). According to FAO (), Nigerian livestock accounts for nearly 5 to 6.5% of the Agricultural Gross Domestic Product (NAPRI, 4). The ability of the livestock farmer to attain his full productive potential is influenced by the media of agricultural information dissemination of the information. Governments at all levels have made several efforts in boosting livestock production through the establishment

2 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN of universities and research institutes in Nigeria. The universities and research institutes have strive to determine the information needs of the livestock farmers, conduct researches and the findings are disseminated to the livestock farmers through different media for them to utilize it to increase productivity. However, the dissemination of agricultural information to livestock farmers has not yielded much increase in animal productivity. This situation has become a source of concern to the researcher. As a result of these circumstances, one may wonder whether agricultural information is being disseminated to livestock farmers; or could it be that relevant media for agricultural information have not being employed? or could it be that media employed are not effective? It is against this background that this study was set out to investigate the to livestock farmers for sustainable animal production in Daura, Dandume and Jibia local government areas in Katsina State. Research questions The following research questions guided the study:-. What type of agricultural information is disseminated to the livestock farmers in Katsina State for sustainable animal production?. What media are employed in the dissemination of agricultural information to the livestock farmers in Katsina State for sustainable animal production? Objectives of the study The following are the objectives of the Study:. To identify the type of agricultural information disseminated to the livestock farmers in Katsina State for sustainable animal production.. To find out the type of media employ in the dissemination of agricultural information to the livestock farmers in Katsina State for sustainable animal production. Literature review According to Mohammed (5) generally, information can be said to be relevant and useful when it is disseminated, accessed and optimally utilised by the target audience. He further stress that information can be disseminated through variety of channels/media such as: body language and direct face-to-face contact in form of inter-personal communication in oneto-one formation, one-to many formation, and in many-to one formation which usually easily takes place in personal private discussions and in public presentations at public gatherings and places such as: in group discussions; classrooms; formal and informal peer group interactions; meetings; promotions and marketing events/agencies programmes; political campaigns; and other public-oriented fora, livestock farmers are not an exception. In livestock setting, information is disseminated especially to the livestock farmers through community and ward heads, courtiers, scribes, town criers and other traditional communication instruments. Agricultural information dissemination is critical for promoting advances in all livestock production. Fanley (4) is of the view that agricultural information dissemination is the process by which livestock farmers share results and experiences with the aim of influencing their farming practices to have a better understanding of the intent and use of said messages. Gupta (5) saw as a system of distribution of information or knowledge by research institutions and universities through varieties of ways to potential users or beneficiaries. However, information

3 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN dissemination can start by documentation or distribution of activities such as the publication of paper-based products in form of articles, books, monographs or other such scholarly papers. The essence of is to distribute or broadcast information, on one hand, to share information and to invite others towards a better understanding, on the other (IGI Global, 4). In this regard, relevant information, messages and events should be designed, packaged and disseminated through appropriate media in order for the livestock farmers make sense out of them. To this end, relevant professionals such as librarians, information scientists, web designers, journalists and extension workers should be seen to lead in the dissemination of agricultural information to the livestock farmers in Nigeria. This is in line with the fact that information dissemination is regarded as a vital ingredient for promoting agricultural and rural development. According to Ejembi (6), agricultural information dissemination is a process that involves the use of mass media, briefings, information officers, printed materials, websites, and informal person to person meetings to share results and experiences with the aim of influencing the way livestock farmers think and act, or of making them aware of new idea, product or services. Methodology The study is quantitative in nature. According to Cohen (98) quantitative research is defined as social research that employs empirical methods and empirical statements. It is the numerical representation and manipulation of observations for the purpose of describing and explaining the phenomena that those observations reflect. Survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study comprises of registered livestock farmers rearing only Cattles in Dandume, Daura and Jibia local government areas of Katsina State. Therefore, a total of six hundred (6) livestock farmers are found to be the target population for the study. Cluster sampling technique was used to select the sample size. Cluster sampling is the division of the population into separate groups, called clusters, then, a simple random sample of clusters is selected from the population. On the basis of this therefore, a total of six (6) clubs/associations and seventy five (75) livestock farmers were selected as sample for the study. This represents 3% each of the entire population. Questionnaire was designed and used as instrument for data collection in the study. Findings and discussions Out of the 75 copies of the questionnaire distributed to the livestock farmers, a total of 7 (93.4%) copies were returned duly completed and found usable for this study. The data collected were analysed using frequency tables, and percentages as presented below:- Types of agricultural information disseminated to the livestock farmers for sustainable animal production in Katsina State This section tried to identify the types of agricultural information disseminated to the livestock farmers for sustainable animal production in Katsina State. In order to do this, a list of type of agricultural information disseminated was provided for the livestock farmers to tick as many types of information disseminated to them as found relevant. Their responses are reflected in Table. 3

4 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN Table : Type of agricultural information disseminated to the livestock farmers in LGAs studied in Katsina State S LGAs Studied / N Types of information Dandume Daura disseminated to the Jibia Total farmers Freq % Freq % Freq. % Freq. % Breeding Techniques New breed varieties Climate Weather access to market Credit/loan facilities Cost of inputs and its qualities 8 Price of antibiotics Transaction cost Land Tenure Environment use Animal welfare codes of practice Livestock disease control Seller liability and declaration acts Milk processing The Table above showed the responses of the livestock farmers in the local government areas studied in Katsina State on the type of agricultural information disseminated to them for sustainable animal production. From the above analysis, it was discovered that breeding techniques, new breed varieties, climate, access to market, credit/loan facilities, price of antibiotics and livestock disease control were the types of agricultural information disseminated to the livestock farmers with the highest frequencies of over 7% response scores respectively in the local government areas of Katsina State studied. Whereas, weather, cost of inputs and its qualities, transaction cost, land tenure, environment use, animal welfare code of practice and seller liability and declaration acts were the types of agricultural information disseminated with the least frequencies of less than % response scores respectively. This finding agreed with that of Fortin and Pierce (998) who argued that, majority of agricultural information disseminated to the livestock farmers are on profit making, credit/loans, price of antibiotics and access to markets, and provided a platform for the benefit of federal, states and local governments agricultural agencies. However, new advances in livestock production largely depend on weather information which is vital for the timing of animal rearing activities. Information on environment use considering that livestock business is among the most damaging sectors to the earth increasingly scarce water resources, contributing among other things to water pollution with the animal waste. The timely dissemination 4

5 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN of agricultural information on environment use will boost not only the livestock s but the entire community, information on transaction cost which tend to minimize cost of livestock feeds and the risk attached to the transporting them to market. Media employed for dissemination of agricultural information to the livestock farmers for sustainable animal production in Katsina State The research question was asked to find out the types of media employed in to the livestock farmers in Katsina State. Thus, a list of media was outlined for the respondents to tick as many media as employed. Table portrayed the responses of the respondents. Table : Media employed for to the livestock farmers in Katsina State Types of media Local Government Areas Total Dandume Daura Jibia Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Radio Television Newspapers Posters Interpersonal communication Library Extension workers Magazines.... Telephones Clubs/association s Co-farmers 9I Minis/govt agencies Internet.... The Table showed the responses of the respondents on the type of media employed for agricultural information dissemination to the livestock farmers in Katsina State. It was discovered that radio, television, interpersonal communication, clubs/associations, and co-farmer were the media employed for agricultural information dissemination to the livestock farmers with the highest frequencies of over 9% response scores respectively. Whereas, newspapers, library, extension workers, magazines, telephones, ministry/government agencies, and Internet were the media employed for to the livestock farmers in the areas studied with the least frequencies scores of -% responses. 5

6 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN From the above findings, it can be concluded that radio, television, posters, interpersonal communication, co-farmers and clubs/associations were the media mostly employed for to the livestock farmers in the local government areas studied for sustainable animal production in Katsina State. The researcher further sought to determine the effectiveness of the media employed for dissemination of agricultural information to the livestock farmers in Katsina State. In order to do this, a list of options was provided for the respondents to indicate their responses using a 5 -point likert scale of measurement. However, the scale was merged into 3 point scale to eased analysis and discussions. The table 4 shows the responses of the respondents. 6

7 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN Table 3: Effectiveness of the media employed for to livestock farmers in Katsina State Types of Media Employed Local Government Areas Dandume Daura Jibia VE RE NE VE RE NE VE RE NE F % F % F % F % F % F % F % F % F % Magazines Newspapers Posters Television Radio Extension workers Interpersonal communication Clubs/associations Co-farmers Ministries/govt agencies

8 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN Internet Telephone Key: VE-VERY EFFECTIVE RE-RARELY EFFECTIVE NE-NOT EFFECTIVE 8

9 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN The Table 3 showed the responses of the respondents on the effectiveness of the media employed for agricultural information dissemination to the livestock farmers in Katsina State. It was discovered that in Dandume local government area, Radio (9.7%), Television (9.7%), Posters (9.7%), and Interpersonal communication (9.7%) were very effective media employed for agricultural information dissemination to them. This is followed by clubs/associations and Co-farmers with the frequencies scores of over 8% responses respectively. On the other hand, magazines 4 (.%), Internet 3 (95.8%), telephone 3 (95.8%), extension workers (9.7%), ministry/government agencies 7 (7.8%) and newspapers 6 (66.7%) were the media indicated by the livestock farmers not been effective in the dissemination of agricultural information in the area studied. This finding is surprising and abnormal in the sense that extension workers are primarily responsible for interacting with the generality of rural farmers. This implies that extension workers perhaps do not make themselves available or they are inadequate and cannot conduct effective outreach services to the livestock farmers in the area. In Daura local government area, the table further revealed that posters 3 (.%), and interpersonal communication 3 (.%) were the very effective media employed for to the livestock farmers in the area studied. This is followed by radio, clubs/associations, television, and cofarmers with the frequencies scores of over 8% response respectively. On the other hand, magazines (95.6%), newspapers (87.%), ministries/government agencies 9 (8.6%), Internet (9.3%) and telephone (9.3%) were not been effective as media for agricultural information dissemination to the livestock farmers. In the same vein, in Jibia local government area, television (95.7%), interpersonal communication (95.7%), posters (9.3%), and radio (9.3%), were the media that are very effective in to the livestock farmers. This is followed by co-farmers and clubs/associations with the frequencies scores of over 7% response respectively. Also, magazines 3 (.%), internet 3 (.%), telephone 3 (.%), ministries/government agencies (9.3%) and newspapers 9 (8.6%) were the not been effective media for to the livestock farmers. By implication to these findings, the low level of the education of the livestock farmers contributed to their inability to read newspapers, magazines, and access the internet, thus considering this media as not effective in the agricultural information dissemination for sustainable animal production in the areas studied. From the above analysis, it can be concluded that radio, television, posters, interpersonal communication, clubs/associations and co-farmers were the media tend to be very effective for to the livestock farmers for sustainable animal production in Katsina State. Also, as a follow-up question to the above discussion, the researcher sought to determine the level of preference of the media employed for agricultural information dissemination to the livestock farmers in Katsina State. In order to achieve this objective, the researcher provided the respondents with a list of types of media to indicate their preference using a 5-likert scale of measurement. The scale was however collapsed into 3 points: Most Preferred (MP), Rarely Preferred (RP) and Not Preferred (NP) for ease of analysis and computation. The table 5 presents the responses of the respondents. 9

10 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN Table 4: Levels of preference for the media employed for to livestock farmers Local Government Areas Types of Media Employed Dandume Daura Jibia MP RP NP MP RP NP MP RP NP F % F % F % F % F % F % F % F % F % Radio Television Newspapers Posters Interpersonal communication Library Extension workers Magazines Telephones Clubs/associations Co-farmers

11 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN Ministries/govt agencies Internet

12 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN The Table 4 showed the responses of the respondents on their levels of preference with the media employed for to the livestock farmers in Katsina State. It was discovered that in Dandume local government area, Radio, 4 (.%) was the most preferred media employed for agricultural information disseminated to them. This was followed by television, posters, clubs/associations and co-farmers with the frequencies scores of over 9% response respectively. On the other hand, the respondents indicated that library 3 (95.8%), magazines (9.6%) and newspapers 9 (79.%) were not preferred media employed for to them. This finding is in conformity with the position of Aboyade (5) who observed that library is often seen in the light of educated elitist users and not associated with rural non-reading people. This finding seems to be obvious considering the level of educational background of the livestock farmer s vis-à-vis the absent of the library in the rural areas. In Daura local government area, it was discovered that radio 3 (.%) was the media employed most preferred by the livestock farmers for agricultural information dissemination. followed by television, posters, and interpersonal communication with the frequencies scores of over 8% response respectively. On the other hand, newspapers (95.7%), magazines (86.9%) and internet 6 (69.5%) were indicated not preferred media employed for agricultural information dissemination to them. This could be attributed to low level of educational background from the livestock farmers. While in Jibia local government area, radio 3 (.%), television 3 (.%), and posters 3 (.%) were the most preferred media employed by the livestock farmers for agricultural information dissemination. This is followed by clubs/associations, cofarmers and interpersonal communication with the frequencies scores of over 8% response scores respectively. On the other hand, the respondents indicated that newspapers 8 (78.3%), magazines (95.7%), library (86.9) and Internet (95.7%) were the not preferred media employed for to them. As a result the livestock farmers consider them not important and helpful in disseminating relevant agricultural information. From the above analysis, it can be deduced that radio, television, and posters were the media mostly preferred by livestock farmers for agricultural information dissemination for sustainable animal production in Katsina State. This finding agreed with that of Ray (3) who reported that radio is a popular media for as well as attitude change. The radio remains the most powerful, and yet the cheapest media for reaching large numbers of people in isolated areas. Women can listen to radio programmes at home in the evenings when the main chores of the day are taking place and after. Conclusion Based on the findings of the study, it could be concluded that there exist various types of media for agricultural information dissemination. The essence is to ensure and guarantee an effective and efficient flow of information to the livestock farmers for sustainable animal production. However, the indispensable role of extension workers as a link for agricultural information dissemination is significantly low in

13 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN such a way that the livestock farmers were not satisfied with the activities of extension workers in the agricultural information dissemination. This calls for serious efforts towards strengthening the role of agricultural extension workers in the dissemination of information to livestock farmers in Katsina State. Recommendations Arising from the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made:. The need for extensive dissemination of the following agricultural information: weather, climate, cost of inputs and its quality, transaction cost, environment use, animal welfare code of practice, seller liability and milk processing is highly advocated in the LGAs studied. References Aboyade, W.A (5). Information and Communication Technology in Nigeria: Revolution or Evolution. m/...jss ogunsola-l-a-full-text pdf Retrieved Adereti F.O. (4). Information Utilization on Fish production Techniques by Farmers in Oluyole Local Government area of Oyo State, Nigeria. European J. Soc. Sci., 3(): -7. Adebo, G.M and Ewuola, S.O (6).Effect of Training on Improved Farm Practices by Farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria.Journal of Agricultural Extension, 9, pp Cohen, S. (98) Footprints in the Sand: A Further Report on criminology and the sociology of deviance in Britain In: Fitzgerald, M., McLennan, G. &Pawson, J.. The use of newspapers, Internet, telephone, magazines, ministry/government agencies and the extension workers need to be given a special attention as the livestock industry is today witnessing literate individuals in the business. 3. That government should as a matter of policy prioritise agricultural information dissemination to the livestock farmers in their local radios, TV stations and rural libraries across LGAs in Katsina State. 4. That government at all levels should collaborate to introduce rural library services across Local Government Areas of Katsina State. This will go a long way in providing the livestock farmers necessary information they require for sustainable livestock production. (eds) Crime and Society: Readings in History and Theory, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul pg.4. Ejembi, C.L. (6) Farmers assessment of the training and visit extension system in central Nigeria: Evidence from BarkinLadi, Plateau State. Journal of Social Sciences. (3):-. Fenley, S. (4). A Manual for Agricultural Extension Workers in Nigeria. ST Printers, Rwalpindi, Parkistan, pp FAO (). Trypanotolerant cattle and livestock development in West and Central Africa.FAO animal production health paper 67/ vol., p 3 3. Fortin, M., and Pierce, F. J. (998). Toward an agriculture information system to maximize value in agricultural data in S.A.Wolf (Ed.) Privatization of information and agricultural 3

14 JORIND 4() June, 6. ISSN industrialization Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Gupta, M.V (5). Information Provision to Farmers in Africa: The Library- Extension Services Linkage. World Library and Information Congress: 7 nd IFLA General Conference and Council -4 August, Seoul. GI Global (4). Delivering Instruction Using st Century Technologies. Mohammed, Z. (5). A Lecture on Intelligent Information Systems, Resources and Services Presented to the PGDIM Students, Department of Library and Information Science, ABU Zaria. Rao, S.V.R (4). A frame work for implementing information and communication technologies in agricultural development in India. Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 74(4), Ray, G.L (3). Extension Communication and Management.(5 th ed. Rev.) Kalyani Publisher, New Delhi, Indian. 4