ABSTRACT
The study examined the information management strategies of extension worker in Delta and Edo states, Nigeria. It described the socio-economic characteristics of extension workers, identified the source and method of agricultural information dissemination as well as determined the information management strategy preferably used. It also identified the areas of agricultural information needs and frequency of search by extension workers as well as the constraint to information management.
A total enumeration of all extension agents (126 respondents) was obtained from the two (2) purposively selected agencies; (ADPs and Research institutes) in Delta and Edo states. Data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, Logit regression and Multiple regression.
The Result indicated that respondents were middle age with mean age of 44 years dominated by the males (73.8%), majority (69.0%) having HND and B.Sc., with (53.2%) having a household size of between 4 and 6 persons. Mean working experience was 12 years. Extension workers source information mostly from Research institutes (62.5%). All of the respondents adopted the use of telephone calls to disseminate information, although Demonstration method (mean=3.52) was the most frequently used method. The strategy mostly used for managing information was use of television for Agric. adverts (93.7%), but they highly prefer the use of contact farmers (=2.78). Extension workers needed and sought for information from different areas categorized into crop production, animal production and other areas. New variety of seed and seedling (=3.76 and =3.86 respectively) were the most highly needed and frequently sought after for crop production. Animal productions, information on all areas were highly needed and information on reproduction (=3.27) was most frequently sought for. Information on vertisols management (=4.03) was highly needed and information on storage (=3.68) was most frequently sought for in other areas. High cost of telecommunication services, e.g. GSM/landline (=4.03) was the most serious constraint to information management in the study area. The result also showed that age (Ԝ=2.41), sex (Ԝ=3.28), educational qualification (Ԝ=4.08), working experience (Ԝ=2.72), household size (Ԝ=4.49), training background (Ԝ=2.37) and job location (Ԝ=3.57) significantly influence extension workers preference for information management strategies. Similarly socio-economic characteristics such as age, working experience, household size, educational qualification and rank of extension workers significantly affected their information management strategies usage. It was therefore recommended that extension agents should be encouraged to adopt strategies that will help achieve maximum results in improving information management.
