Use of Information and Communication Technologies for Agricultural Teaching and Research in Universities in Enugu State,Nigeria

This study examined the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for agricultural teaching and research in universities in Enugu State, Nigeria. Results show that almost all the respondents (lecturers 96.9%, students 90%) had acquired ICT training. Computers, GSM/telephone, photocopying machines, e-mail, flash drives, printers and Internet were the most frequently used ICTs. The age of the lecturers was the most important factor that significantly influenced the frequency of computer usage for teaching and research (P ≤ 0.05).     

An Assessment of the Contribution of Urban Crop Agriculture in Nigerian Cities: A Case Study of Enugu Metropolis,Enugu State,Nigeria

This study examined the contribution of urban crop agriculture in Enugu metropolis, Enugu State. A questionnaire/interview schedule was used to collect information from 60 urban agriculture (UA) farmers. Respondents were engaged in UA to provide food for family members (97%), for extra income (91.67%), and to pay children's school fees (85.45%). The average amount realized from sales of UA produce was US$11 per week. The destruction of crops by stray animals, theft, and lack of information were identified as the major barriers to UA in the study area. Only 20% of the respondents were aware of extension services. Urban agriculture as practiced today in Enugu is of limited scale. To reach its full potential, government intervention is needed.     

Factors Influencing Use of Traditional Communication Methods in Information Dissemination Among Farmers in Osun State,Nigeria

Critical factors influencing farmers’ use of traditional communication methods (TCMs) in information dissemination were isolated with a factor analytical technique. The results show that most of the farmers were between 31 and 60 years and the majority (63%) employ use of TCMs such as proverbs, hooting, putting leaves on path, and use of palm fronds to deliver information at a moderate level. The features of TCMs, farmers’ personal characteristics, economic proficiency, and influence of social contact were factors influencing use of TCMs. It was concluded that use of TCMs is influenced by their peculiarities in discerning information and the user's personal and socioeconomic characteristics.     

Information Communication Technology Needs of Small-Scale Farmers in Anambra State,Nigeria

This study sought to identify the information communication technology (ICT) needs of small-scale farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria. A structured interview schedule was used to collect data from a sample of 108 farmers. Results revealed that the majority used radio and television and owned mobile phones and video machines. Constraints to use included capacity, infrastructural/technical and logistical problems. The study recommends that the Nigerian government reorient its policies in order to harness the potential of ICTs to contribute to agricultural development and highlights the need to raise awareness of the agricultural uses of ICTs among the government, other national stakeholders, and rural communities.     

Awareness and Use of Information Communication Technologies by Farmers in Oyo State,Nigeria

Due to inadequate personnel, information communication technologies (ICTs) have become an attractive option for delivery of extension information. This study examined awareness and use of ICTs by farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. A total of 192 farmers were interviewed. Results indicate that most farmers had no formal education and small farm holdings. Awareness of older ICTs like radio and television was more prevalent among farmers as compared with newer ICTs such as Internet and cable television. However, use of modern ICTs like mobile phones and cable television was greater than that for older technologies such as fax machines. Farmers were constrained in ICT use by prohibitive cost and service failure. The Nigerian government should encourage a liberal policy for affordable prices for modern ICT products, especially mobile telephones.     

Dynamics of Agricultural Information and Effect on Income of Melon Farmers in Enugu-Ezike Agricultural Zone of Enugu State,Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The study assessed effects of agricultural information on the income of melon farmers. Ninety melon farmers constituted the sample for the study. Data were collected through an interview average annual income of the respondents from melon only was ?7,455.4, while their total average schedule, while percentage mean score and correlation were used in the analysis. Findings reveal that the monthly income was ?1,223. About 62 and 42% of the respondents, respectively, did not receive information on melon production and general agriculture. Thus, a positive and significant relationship exists between the number of times respondents received information on melon/general agriculture and their incomes.     

Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Among Private Agricultural Organization Workers in Oyo State,Nigeria

This study was designed to investigate the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among private agricultural organization workers in Oyo State, Nigeria. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. One hundred and five respondents were randomly sampled for the study. Frequency counts, percentages, chi-square, Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC), and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used in analyzing the data. Findings revealed that respondents’ age is significantly related to the use of ICTs and that age and marital status are significantly related to attitude toward use of ICTs. In addition, the study revealed that respondents’ age was significantly related to the benefits derived from the use of ICTs. Recommendations include a better supply of electricity, periodic training and continuous retraining of workers in the use of ICTs, and the creation and enforcement of government policies that will bring about sustainable use of ICTs for agricultural development.     

Information Delivery and its Effect on Production of Cashews in Oyo State,Nigeria

This study assessed information delivery and effect on the productive capacity of contact and non-contact cashew farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. The results showed that the output of contact farmers was significantly different from that of non-contact farmers (p = .006), despite significant differences in farm size (p < .05). Interpersonal contacts through extension agents and friends were the most frequently used sources of information. In addition, information on cashew production and marketing was the most important to farmers. The study shows that farmer's productivity is enhanced through interaction with extension agents.     

Intercropping Combination and Information Sources Among Kola Farmers in Osun State,Nigeria

Appropriate planting patterns ensure sustained soil fertility and higher productivity for farmers. This study assessed the intercropping crop combinations and information sources of kola farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. Sixty respondents were selected using multistage and purposive random sampling techniques. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire. The arable crops commonly intercropped with kola were plantain/banana, yam, cassava, and maize. Tree crops combined with kola included cocoa, citrus, and oil palm. Co-farmers/friends and radio served as popular sources of information for farmers. Farm size was significantly related to respondents’ information sources on kola intercropping. The authors recommend that the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria's extension personnel make greater use of information sources most frequently used by respondents in order to ensure adequate cropping systems.     

Extending Our Reach: Surveying,Analyzing, and Planning Outreach to Extension Staff

This study describes how University of Minnesota Extension staff locate and use information to accomplish daily activities. The major findings were: (a) information seeking is a daily or weekly need; (b) staff use predominately online resources from a variety of sources—peer-reviewed journals, technical or research reports, and government information—and use search engines most frequently to locate them; and (c) Extension staff are aware of the majority of library resources and services. Extension staff welcome advanced information-seeking tools and techniques for professional development.     

Mapping soil erosion risk in Rondônia,Brazilian Amazonia: using RUSLE,remote sensing and GIS

This article discusses research in which the authors applied the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), remote sensing, and geographical information system (GIS) to the maping of soil erosion risk in Brazilian Amazonia. Soil map and soil survey data were used to develop the soil erodibility factor (K), and a digital elevation model image was used to generate the topographic factor (LS). The cover‐management factor (C) was developed based on vegetation, shade, and soil fraction images derived from spectral mixture analysis of a Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus image. Assuming the same climatic conditions and no support practice in the study area, the rainfall–runoff erosivity (R) and the support practice (P) factors were not used. The majority of the study area has K values of less than 0·2, LS values of less than 2·5, and C values of less than 0·25. A soil erosion risk map with five classes (very low, low, medium, medium‐high, and high) was produced based on the simplified RUSLE within the GIS environment, and was linked to land use and land cover (LULC) image to explore relationships between soil erosion risk and LULC distribution. The results indicate that most successional and mature forests are in very low and low erosion risk areas, while agroforestry and pasture are usually associated with medium to high risk areas. This research implies that remote sensing and GIS provide promising tools for evaluating and mapping soil erosion risk in Amazonia. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Utilization of Satellite Imaging and Information Communication Technology in Agricultural Information Dissemination in Nigeria

This study appraised the level of usage of satellite imaging and selected Information Communication Technology (ICT) tools by agricultural extension workers (EWs) in the North Central Zone of Nigeria. Specifically, information on usage of satellite imaging, personal skill ratings, and constraints faced by respondents in the usage of ICT equipment were gathered. Findings revealed that a majority of the respondents (97%) perceived themselves as incompetent in reading and interpreting satellite imaging for agricultural information dissemination. The study posited that government at various levels should assist in training EWs on digital compatibility.     

Distribution and Availability of Zinc and Copper in Benchmark Soils of Pernambuco State,Brazil

Abstract

The benchmark soils collection of Pernambuco state contain 13 of the 14 soil orders of the Brazilian System of Soil Classification. Thus, information on zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) status in such soils is useful as a reference of micronutrient distribution and availability in a representative set of Brazilian soils. The present work was performed to assess Zn and Cu distribution into operationally defined fractions of benchmark soils of Pernambuco state. In addition, chemical extractants, with contrasting chemical properties, were used to assess the availability of these micronutrients to relate such values with fertility guidelines concentrations and with the fractions defined by the sequential extraction. The results demonstrated that the organic matter was the most important fraction retaining Zn and Cu in the studied soils, as indicated by the sequential extraction. The Zn availability in the majority of the soils (90% of the samples) is sufficient to meet the requirement of the major field crops, although the available Cu concentrations are below the critical levels for plant growth in 46% of the analyzed samples. Mehlich‐1 extractant appeared to be the most efficient in predicting the availability of Zn in the soils because of its better correlation with exchangeable and organic fractions. DTPA and Mehlich‐3 were the most efficient extractants for the evaluation of Cu availability, as suggested by the better correlation with organic matter, which is the main pool of available Cu in the soils.     

Principal Areas of Applying Information and Communication Technologies in the Agricultural Extension System of Iran

This study investigated areas for potential application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the agricultural extension system of Iran. Two hundred forty-one extension staff (out of 1,145) in the Ministry of Agriculture were selected and studied as a sample through a stratified random sampling technique. The findings revealed that six factors/components containing 32 variables determined about 68.91% of the variations in the areas of application. The six factors were Management of documentation and preparation of extension information (14.88% of variance), Planning and implementation of extension education programs (13.6%), Professional empowerment of extension agents (10.8%), Expansion of intra-organizational relationships (10.27%), Facilitation of organizational processes (9.7%), and Improving communication through e-mail services (9.64%).