Influence of Information Sources on Farmers’ Knowledge of Poultry Drugs in Delta State, Nigeria: Implications for Rural Community Development

Abstract

The study examined the influence of information source on farmers’ knowledge of poultry drugs in Delta State, Nigeria: Implication for rural community development. The study objectives were to ascertain the institutional characteristics of respondents, their access to information sources, awareness/knowledge of poultry drugs, and to ascertain if there is significant relationship between institutional characteristics of poultry farmers and their access to source of information on poultry drugs in the study area. A 3-stage sampling procedure was used to select respondents. The primary data used in this study were obtained from field surveyed through the use of structured questionnaire administered to 100 respondents. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, means and standard deviation and Chi-square. Higher number (67%) of the respondents have never been leader of groups, 62% of them had contact with extension agents and are members of associations respectively. Result showed that respondents have less access to information on poultry drugs usage as respondents have access only to neighbour (M=2.58) source out of the 18 sources of poultry drugs information identified in the study. Respondents are aware and have access to the use of avian charge (60%), happy hen treat (48.8%), petamine (45.0%), and tricero (32.5%) than other poultry farmers. Chi-Square results showed that all the information sources identified except campaign (0.762), exhibition (0.528), and workshop/seminar (2.607) at 1% level were significant. The study recommends that poultry drugs usage should be encouraged among farmers. Keywords: Information source, knowledge, poultry drugs, Delta State, community development