Sustaining agriculture with information

An assessment of rural citrus farmers’ information behaviour

Bibliographic Data

ID21500833
AuthorsMuhammad Asif Naveed (0000-0002-9104-8143), Ali Hassan (0000-0002-0030-742X, University of Sargodha)
Year2021
Volume37
Issue3
Pages496-510
Publication date2021-09-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInformation Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0266-6669 • E-ISSN: 1741-6469
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0266666920932994
OpenAlexW3043454742
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited20

This study investigated information behaviour of citrus farmers residing in rural areas of Sargodha, Pakistan. The data were collected from 120 adult male farmers through face to face interviews using preformulated questionnaire and analyzed by applying descriptive statistics. The citrus farmers required information on land preparation, soil fertility management, better citrus varieties, citrus trees protection, harvesting techniques, pest and diseases control, fertilizer applications, plantation techniques, finance, Government policies and programs, better pricing, labor information in the locality, agrochemicals, how to stop fruit drop, weather, irrigation management, pesticides application, health and safety information, buyers, collections and traders, and herbicide. These farmers relied overwhelmingly on their prior experience and interpersonal relationships such as fellow farmers/friends, progressive farmers, for agricultural information. More than two-third of these farmers did not seem to have any contact, either written or oral, with government agricultural officials. The farmers’ farm size, education, and income appeared to predict their information needs and sources. Lack of timely access, inaccessibility, unawareness, bad timing of television programs, poor economic conditions, infrequent visits of extension staff, low level of education and language barriers were the primary obstacles in information acquisition. The results will be helpful for extension agents and librarians of the public libraries in the area while making adjustments for efficient and effective information delivery. This study would make a contribution in the existing research on farmers’ crop-specific information behaviour

Agricultural economics · Agricultural extension · Agricultural science · Agriculture · Business · Descriptive statistics · Economics · Geography · Information needs · Political science · Respondent · Agricultural Innovations and Practices · Microfinance and Financial Inclusion · Technology Adoption and User Behaviour · Marketing

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