Information Provision by Public Library to Agricultural Extension Agents in a Developing Country

ABSTRACT One of the bedrock of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is eradication of poverty and hunger. In an attempt to actualize this goal, the role of public libraries in information provision to agricultural extension agents in Nigeria becomes paramount. This paper discusses provision of information to agricultural extension agents in a developing country. It starts with the concept of extension agents and the essence of information provision to them. It further discusses types, sources and challenges of public libraries in information provision to agricultural extension workers in a developing country. Some of the challenges are as follows: poor funding of public libraries, demotivated staff, and so on. Based on these discussions, the paper recommended adequate training and retraining of staff, adequate funding of public libraries by the federal, state and local government, the revitalization of the abandoned mobile library services among others. The paper therefore concludes that information provision to agricultural extension agents by public library is very crucial for national development. The current state of poverty, hunger and lack in Nigeria and some other African countries could be reduced to a great extent if current, relevant and up-to-date information are provided by libraries to the concerned agencies.

[1]  Retno Wulandari,et al.  Information Needs and Source Information of Agricultural Extension Workers in DIY , 2015 .

[2]  R. B. Knust,et al.  Motivation and Performance of Librarians in Public Universities in Ghana , 2013 .

[3]  Promise I Ilo,et al.  Availability of Library and Information Services for Rural Community Development in Nigeria: A Case Study of Ewatto, in Esan South East LGA of Edo State , 2015 .

[4]  S. Toepfer,et al.  IS BUSINESS LINKAGE AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY SERVICES , 2017 .

[5]  J. Clapp,et al.  The State of Food Insecurity in the World Economic growth is necessary but not suf cient to accelerate reduction of hunger and malnutrition , 2009 .

[6]  Harare Polytechnic Role of libraries in promoting the dissemination and documentation of indigenous agricultural information: Case Study of Zimbabwe , 2011 .

[7]  C. O. Igodan,et al.  THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT, THE IMPORTANCE OF EXTENSION WORKERS AND THE NEED FOR CHANGE , 2017 .

[8]  Josephine I. Iwe,et al.  Libraries and Information in Sustainable Rural Development in Nigeria , 2003 .

[9]  Mengistie Mossie,et al.  A review on the role of extension service for agricultural transformation with particular emphasis on Ethiopia , 2015 .

[10]  V. Bitzer Incentives for enhanced performance of agricultural extension systems , 2016 .

[11]  J. Idiegbeyan-ose,et al.  Information as an effective tool in rural development , 2009 .

[12]  K. Davis,et al.  Review and recommendations for strengthening the agricultural extension system in Ethiopia , 2019 .

[13]  E. Salau,et al.  A Case For Participatory (Cost Sharing) Approach to Agricultural Extension Delivery in Nigeria , 2010 .

[14]  Asfaw Albore Review on Role and Challenges of Agricultural Extension Service on Farm Productivity in Ethiopia , 2018 .

[15]  Jerome Idiegbeyan-Ose,et al.  The 21st Century Library and Information Services for the Enhancement of Teacher Education , 2015 .

[16]  S. Okpighe The Seven Factors of Production , 2015 .

[17]  T. Ngomane Research and extension processes and practices in relation to smallholder agriculture in Africa : present, past to present , 2006 .

[18]  K. Belay Agricultural Extension in Ethiopia: The Case of Participatory Demonstration and Training Extension System , 2003 .