INFORMATION SERVICES PROVISION FOR ACCESS AND UTILIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE STUDENTS BY NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION RESEARCH AND LIAISON SERVICES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA

INFORMATION SERVICES PROVISION FOR ACCESS AND UTILIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE STUDENTS BY NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION RESEARCH AND LIAISON SERVICES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to investigate the Information services Provision for access and utilization of Agricultural Science Students by National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services, (NAERLS) Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Six research questions were raised to guide the study. The questions found out the types of agricultural information services for access and use by agricultural science students from NAERLS, ABU, Zaria, the level of awareness of agricultural science students on agricultural information services provided by NAERLS, ABU, Zaria, the preferred channels of accessing agricultural information services by the students, the extent to which agricultural science students utilize agricultural information services by NAERLS, the level of satisfaction of agricultural science students with agricultural information services by NAERLS and the attendant challenges agricultural science students face in accessing and utilizing agricultural information services by NAERLS, ABU Zaria. The study adopted quantitative research method and descriptive research design. The population of the study was 995 and a sample size of 320 was drawn for the study. The instrument used for data collection was the questionnaire, while proportionate stratified random sampling technique was used in selecting respondents for the study. Data collected were analysed using frequency tables, simple percentages and descriptive mean of standard deviation. Findings revealed that agricultural science students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria access and use services like technical/scientific and commercial agricultural information services but others are not aware of these services. Owing to low level of or non awareness, the students would not highly utilize agricultural information services. And if for obvious reasons accessing and utilizing some of these services, the preferred channels are through recommended practices, researches and training and visits. Ratings on satisfaction were low which could not be far from the fact that the services were not highly accessed and utilized by the students. Among the attributed challenges to the utilization of agricultural information services are, but not limited to technophobia and lack of proper orientation. The study concluded that agricultural science students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria are interested in access and use of Agricultural Extension Information Services (AEIS) but not up to date, and not much aware of the AEIS of NAERLS. Many do not know of the existence of such information services in NAERLS even though they are available. It is recommended that awareness should be created on the availability of these agricultural information services as they are of importance to the entire students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and not the agricultural science students alone. Also efforts should be intensified on creating a pact between NAERLS, their international counterparts and their immediate environment which they are expected to serve.

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