Farmers’perception of the farmer resource centre as a source of information for improved agricultural production in oyo state

Abstract

The study examined the perception farmers have of the Farmers’ Resource Centre (FRC) In Ago-are Atisbo Local Government Area of Oyo State as an alternative source of information for improving their agricultural production. Eighty (80) farmers were randomly sampled from a list of 108 farmers obtained from the centre, using a structured questionnaire, but only 41 copies were retrieved and eventually used. Data obtained was analyzed using Frequency counts, Mean (X), Chi-square and Pearson’s Product Moments Correlation (PPMC).Findings of the study showed that majority of the farmers who used the centre were male(75.6%),between the ages of 25 and 50 years (56.1%) and mainly non-literate(68.3%).Most of these
farmers (46.3%) visit the centre more than once a week to source for such information on fertilizer application, harvesting and marketing information on the main crops they cultivate (maize and yam).The study also revealed that the main problems the farmers face in using the centre were computer breakdown (X=3.02) and inadequate rental facility (X=2.83).But in spite of these, they are of the opinion that the centre has helped them enhance their agricultural production (X=4.24).The farmers generally had a positive perception of the resource centre(95.1%).It is therefore recommended that other resource centers be established in other farming communities of the country in order to generally enhance farmers’ output.

Keywords: Perception, Information, Agriculture, Farmer, Resource centre.