Barriers to Accessing Farmers’ Helpline Services among Smallholder Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Digital extension services such as farmers’ helpline centres are key to improving
access to agricultural information and complement the efforts of traditional
extension systems. This study examined barriers to accessing farmers’ helpline
services among smallholder farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. Adopting a multi-stage
sampling procedure, a total of 148 smallholder farmers were sampled. Data were
collected from smallholder farmers using questionnaires. Descriptive analyses
showed that respondents were mostly male (75.6%), middle-aged (x̄=51.80±9.11
years), and quite experienced in farming (x̄=12.58±4.03 years). Awareness of
helpline services was generally high, especially relating to accessibility
irrespective of location (86.7%) and free cost of services (84.4%), however
contact via information channels was limited, with prominent channels being
farmers’ associations (x̄=0.90±0.60) and fellow farmers (x̄=0.71±0.59). Majority
(62.2%) of farmers exhibited a favourable attitude towards helpline services,
while key barriers to access were inconsistency in the operation of the helpline
centre (x̄=1.93±0.25), poor knowledge about the services of the centre
(x̄=1.86±0.45), and insufficient sensitisation of helpline services (x̄=1.84±0.47).
Despite the high awareness and favourable attitude of the respondents towards
helpline services, institutional and knowledge-related barriers largely hindered
respondents’ access to helpline services. Therefore, consistency in service
delivery and intensified sensitisation via trusted information channels should be
ensured to enhance smallholder farmers’ effective access to helpline services.