Information needs in melon (Citrullus lunatus thumb) production among farmers in Ibadan/Ibarapa zones of Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Information remains a critical issue in the production of food crops such as melon (egusi). The study examined
the information needs in melon production among farmers in Ibadan/Ibarapa Agricultural Development Zone
of Oyo State. Multi stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of one hundred and twenty (120)
respondents. Data were collected with the use of structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive and
inferential statistics. Results show that 61.7 percent of the respondents were female, married (84.2%) with an
average age of 43years and cultivate an average 2.9 hectares of land. Major information needed on melon
production was of seed treatment (x¯= 2.00). It was also revealed that fellow farmers/families (x = 2.28), farm
centres (x¯= 2.10) and radio/television (x¯= 2.03) constituted the major source of information. Farmers were
constrained with the challenges of poor feedback system (x¯= 2.22) and reliability of information source (x¯=
2 2 2.03). There was a significant relationship between age (÷ = 10.80 df = 8), marital status (÷ = 18.04, df = 3),
2 2 2 years of education (÷ = 44.38, df 6), farming experience (÷ = 21.69, df = 6), family size (÷ = 43.45 df = 6) and
2 extension contact (÷ = 29.49, df = 3) and information needs at 5% significant level. It was concluded that
melon farmers were in need of information on melon production. It is therefore recommended that adequate
information especially on seed treatment be provided for farmers' usage. Attention should be given to feedback
systems to the information provided to enhance effective usage among farmers.