Preferred Sources of Information Used by Cassava Farmers in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study ascertained information sources that cassava farmers preferred to use in Delta State. Area and stratified sampling techniques were used to select villages and farmers. A total of 125 respondents were used for the study. Questionnaire and interview schedule were used to collect data. Data were analysed by use of percentages, mean scores, rankings, and factor analysis based on homophily and heterophily communication factors. This study found that the average age of cassava farmers was 45.6 years. Neighbour was the most preferred source of information by cassava farmers with a mean score of 2.32. The second and third preferred information sources were opinion leaders and farmers’ cooperative society with mean scores of 2.16 and 2.00 respectively. The result of factor analysis revealed that heterophilous factors had higher factor loadings for neighbours (0.830), farmers’ cooperative society(0.769), television(0.774) and friends(0.371). This result proved that nowadays, cassava farmers preferred heterophilous information sources, from those that belong to higher social strata due to search for improvement in farming practices.