Information Needs of Rice Farmers on Inorganic Fertilizer Use in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study ascertained information needs of rice farmers on inorganic fertilizer use. One hundred and twenty rice farmers purposively selected from Ebonyi State, Nigeria constituted sample for the study. An interview schedule was used to collect data while percentage, mean scores and factor analysis were used for data analysis. Findings indicated that the majority (92.5%) of the respondents obtained information on inorganic fertilizer use from families and friends, all (100%) the respondents obtained fertilizer from the markets while 98.4% had no training on inorganic fertilizer use. Important areas that respondents required information on inorganic fertilizer use for rice production were on how to get fertilizer easily (x̄ =1.89), how to detect good or bad fertilizer (x̄=1086) among others. Institutional, technical, logistic and health constraints limited the farmers from using inorganic fertilizer in rice production. Provision of fertilizer subsidy by government (99.2%) and increase in accessibility of fertilizer by farmers (98.3%) were some of the strategies for improving inorganic fertilizer use on rice production. Extension should furnish farmers with information and training on where to get good fertilizer easily and how to use them in rice production.

Key words: Rice farmers, inorganic fertilizer, information needs