Availability and accessibility of information sources for mitigating inflationary effects among maize farmers in Ikpoba-Okha LGA, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Rising inflation in Nigeria has increased agricultural input costs and heightened the vulnerability of smallholder maize farmers. This study examined the availability and accessibility of information sources for mitigating inflationary effects among maize farmers in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling procedure was used to select 175 farmers from five major maize-producing communities, of whom 153 provided valid responses. Primary quantitative data on respondents’ socio-economic characteristics, availability and accessibility of information sources, and perceived effects of inflation on livelihood were collected through a structured questionnaire administered by trained field assistants. Data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean scores and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Results showed that television (97.4%), the internet (99.3%), radio (86.3%) and libraries (91.5%) were widely available. However, farmer unions (x̄ = 2.08), cooperatives (x̄ = 2.49) and fellow farmers (x̄ = 2.26) were the only information sources rated highly accessible. Inflation had substantial economic and social effects on farmers’ livelihoods, particularly through higher transportation costs, input prices, fuel costs and labour-related pressures. Information accessibility had a moderate and significant inverse relationship with perceived inflationary effects (r = −0.425, p < 0.01), indicating that improved access to timely and reliable information reduced farmers’ vulnerability. The study recommends strengthening extension services, digital information systems and cooperative-based information dissemination to enhance farmers’ resilience and sustain maize production under inflationary conditions.