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Extension workers�¢���� access to climate information and sources in Edo State Nigeria | Abstract
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Abstract

Extension workers�¢���� access to climate information and sources in Edo State Nigeria

Author(s): Margaret J. Koyenikan

This study examined access of Agricultural Extension Workers in Edo State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) to climate information sources. All the 47 Extension workers in the ADP constituted the respondents for the study. The findings showed that 51.06% of the respondents were males, 85.11% were married, about 55.32% were between 40- 49 years old and 61.7% had over 10years working experience. Majority (68.08%) of the respondents belonged to the Extension Agent (EA) cadre. The climate change observations considered to be prevalent by most of the respondents were increase in pest and disease infestation (95.7%), erosion (91.5%), flooding (89.4%) and excessive heat (76.6%). More than 40% of the respondents accessed climate information on climate parameters and their applications to agricultural practices. The most frequently accessed formal sources were local radio (mean=3.04), national radio (mean=2.98) and national television (mean=2.52) while the informal sources were farmers/client system (mean=2.64), personal assessment (mean=2.62) family and friends (mean=2.55). Major constraints to accessing climate information include inadequate funding (mean=2.64) and irregular power supply (mean=2.53). There were positive but non significant relationships between respondents’ personal characteristics and access to climate information sources; age (r=0.208), education (r=0.120) and working experience (r=0.100). There was significant difference in respondents access of formal and informal climate information sources (t=2.043; p=0.000). It was recommended among others that climate information should be institutionalized, regulated, coordinated and applied/related to local agricultural activities on a regular basis for extension workers to access.