EFFECT OF FARMERS’ SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS ON ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM PAKISTAN

F. Rehman, S. Muhammad*, I. Ashraf*, K. Mahmood Ch.*, T. Ruby**, and I. Bibi***

University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur– Pakistan.
*Institute of Agricultural Extension & Rural Development, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad – Pakistan.
**CIDS, Islamia University of Bahawalpur– Pakistan.
***Chemistry Department, Islamia University of Bahawalpur– Pakistan.
Corresponding Author E-mail: frhrhmn107@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

In agriculture, the role of information cannot be over emphasized in enhancing the agricultural development.  Information is crucial for increasing agricultural production and improving marketing & distribution strategies. Agricultural extension has a strong reliance on information exchange among farmers. The present study intends to identify various agricultural information sources of farmers, their access to agricultural information and its association with the socio-economic characteristics. A proportionate sample of 361 respondents was selected at random from the subscribers of three selected agricultural magazines by using Fitzgibbon table. The data were collected with the help of a pre-tested and validated questionnaire and were analyzed by using computer software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics such as simple frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used. On the basis of weighted score the rank order was determined. Also, bivariate analysis was used to test the level of association between the selected variables. The results showed that the print media and fellow farmers were the major information sources of farmers. The results further revealed that education and size of land holding had highly significant positive relationship with access to agricultural information while age and farming experience had non-significant relationship. The results of the study therefore reveal that there is a dire need for the effective implementation of policies on adequate and easy accessibility of agricultural information to the farmers to enhance the agricultural production.
Key words: Socio-economic characteristics, access to agricultural information.