Keeney, Dennis (author) and Vorley, William T. (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
1998
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C16995
Notes:
Pages 39-50 in Steven A. Wolf (ed.), Privatization of information and agricultural industrialization. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. 299 pages, This chapter originated as part of a workshop held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on October 25-26, 1995. Theme of the workshop: "Privatization of information and technology transfer in U.S. agriculture: research and policy implications."
14 pages., via online journal,, Effective agricultural extension is key to improving productivity, increasing farmers’ access to information, and promoting more diverse sets of crops and improved methods of cultivation. In India, however, the coverage of agricultural extension workers and the relevance of extension advice is poor. We investigate whether a women's self‐help group (SHG) platform could be an effective way of improving access to information, women's empowerment in agriculture, agricultural practices, and production diversity. We use cross‐sectional data on close to 1,000 women from five states in India and employ nearest‐neighbor matching models to match SHG and non‐SHG women along a range of observed characteristics. We find that participation in an SHG increases women's access to information and their participation in some agricultural decisions, but has limited impact on agricultural practices or outcomes, possibly due to financial constraints, social norms, and women's domestic responsibilities. SHGs need to go beyond provision of information to changing the dynamics around women's participation in agriculture to effectively translate knowledge into practice.
Engelman, Kimberly K. (author), Perpich, Denise L. (author), Peterson, Shelly L. (author), Hall, Matthew A. (author), Ellerbeck, Edward F. (author), and Stanton, Annette L. (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2005-04
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C23138
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 73 Document Number: C03536
Notes:
AGRICOLA IND 88058315, In: Proceedings of the VIth World Congress of the International Association of the Agricultural Librarians and Documentalists : agricultural information to hasten development : Held 3-7 March 1980, Manila, Philippines. Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines : Agricultural Librarian Association of Philippines, Agricultural Information Bank for Asia, 1981. p. 13-19.
12 pages., Agriculture play significant role towards sustainability of developing nations’ economy particularly Nigeria by providing abundant raw materials required by the industry, as well as ensures food security and a healthy nation. This study examines the challenges of accessing agricultural information sources and services by farmers in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State. Survey method was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprise of 16066 from which 78 farmers of the study area were selected using stratified random sampling and purposive sampling procedure. From the copies of questionnaires administered only 60 were duly completed and returned. Frequency and percentages were used in analyzing data collected. The findings from the study showed that information needs of farmers among others include application of improve techniques, irrigation management, seeds prices, farm wild fire management and prevention, purchase and use of fertilizer, government blueprint on agriculture, and meteorology information need of farmers in Edu Local Government . The findings further revealed that poor communication system, absence of library and information centre, absence of extension agents, insufficient knowledge on marketing of farm produce , insufficient credit facilities, insufficient information on government policies, insufficient fund were the challenges faced by farmers in accessing agricultural information sources and services. The study recommended among others that central facility providing and disseminating information on agricultural related services should be created in the study area that would be accessible to all farmers in order to meet their information needs.