Cashew Farmers' Preferred Sources of Information in Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

Farmers tend to be selective in their choice of communicated messages based on their compatibility with their existing practices, societal norms, values or beliefs. This study examined cashew farmers’ preferred sources of information in Ibarapa central local government area of Oyo State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to sample 70 respondents in the local government area. Structured questionnaire and interview schedule was used to elicit responses on respondents’ personal characteristics, available source of information, adequacy of information sourced, preferred source of information and constraints faced by farmers with regards to information sources. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi square and PPMC) at p = 0.05. Mean age of the respondents was 32 years, most of the respondents (82.9%) were male, married (80.0%) and 34.3% had secondary education. Mean farming experience and household sizes were 14.4 and 6.5 respectively. Respondents’ sources of information ranged from co-operative group (91.4%), cashew farmers association (75.7%), fellow farmers (55.7%) radio (50.0%) and mobile phone (40.0%). Respondents’ most preferred source of information were extension agents (2.0), cashew farmers association (1.8), radio (1.0), and fellow farmers (0.9). The constraints encountered were unavailability of information source (2.0), inadequate extension agents (1.9) and inadequate capital (1.8) among others. Significant relationship existed between respondents’ age (r= -0.228), constraints encountered (r= -0.164) and their preferred source of information.It is concluded that the government should provide adequate extension agents for enhanced cashew production and consequently higher income for improved standard of living for the rural farmers.