Bashir Sani, Zubairu Omenesa, Ibrahim Sambo, Ademola Oyedokun and Musa Yuguda
Access to information by rural farmers in Nigeria is inefficient due to a variety of factors which include insufficient extension staff, poor infrastructure, limited coverage of electronic sources and dearth of information in the right format among others. The National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University is an agricultural extension research institute that has the mandate to disseminate proven and relevant agricultural innovation to farmers in Nigeria. In order to ensure delivery of timely and relevant information to rural farmers, a strategy was developed to facilitate access to such information. Part of the strategies employed by the institute involved setting up of information resource centres in Adopted Villages across the country. These resource centres were manned by the farmers themselves, with information resources supplied by the institute. Information was supplied in various formats (print, electronic and demonstrations). The strategy proved effective in providing both general and specific information to rural farmers across the farming communities where the strategy was employed. The adopted villages also served as showrooms for neighboring farming communities. User statistics indicate that over 4,000 rural farmers visited the 6 rural information resource centers across the country over a period of 12 months with video documentaries of production practices topping the list of requested information. The overall productivity and sustainable use of natural resources by farmers was enhanced through this approach. The approach was also cost effective as both parties contributed in running the resource centres.