Information Needs on Dry Season Vegetable Farming Among Rural Women in Ogun State, Nigeria

The study investigated the information needs on dry season vegetable farming among rural women in Ogun State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, identified the sources of agricultural information available to rural women engaged in dry season vegetable farming and their level of access, accessed the frequency of receiving agricultural information by the respondents, examined the specific information needs of rural women in dry season vegetable farming, and evaluated the challenges faced by rural women in accessing and utilizing agricultural information. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 200 women farmers involved in dry season vegetable farming. A structured interview schedule was used to collect data and data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Results show that the average age and household size of respondents was 55.1years and 7 persons, respectively. Major information sources accessible to rural women were fellow farmers (x̄=2.94), Radio/TV programmes (x̄=2.67), and agricultural cooperative groups (x̄=2.45). Women farmers mostly needed information on pest and disease control (x̄=2.70), climate and weather patterns (x̄=2.65), and irrigation and water management (x̄=2.65). Furthermore, rural women were constrained by limited access to internet or digital tools (x̄=3.01), inadequate extension services (x̄=3.00), and lack of technical knowledge and skill to access and use information (x̄=2.95). Regression analysis show that formal educational (β=0.65), farm size (β=0.28), membership of farm-based association/cooperative groups (β=1.19), and years of experience in dry season vegetable farming (β=-0.05) significantly (p < 0.05) influences information needs the perceived of rural women farmers. PPMC analysis showed that access to dry season vegetable farming information through agricultural cooperative groups (r = 0.341), research institutes/universities (r = 0.343), internet/social media (r = 0.462), radio/tv programmes (r = 0.146), and agricultural extension officers (r = 0.470) and this implies that increased access to information through these sources will increase perceived information needs on dry season vegetable women farmers. The study concluded that rural women farmers need information on control of pests and diseases, adapt and climate and weather patterns. Thus, there is need for agricultural extension agents in the study area to intensify efforts to conduct educational programmes towards the dissemination of information to rural women on control pest and disease control, adapt and mitigate the effects of climate.