Assessment of Agricultural Information Needs and Sources Among Women Farmers in Katsina State, North West Nigeria

Access to appropriate and timely agricultural information is a critical enabler of technology adoption and productive decision-making among farmers. Women farmers in northern Nigeria often face significant information access gaps relative to male counterparts, reducing their ability to benefit from improved agricultural practices. This study assessed the agricultural information needs and sources among women farmers in Katsina State. A structured questionnaire was administered to 100 women farmers selected from four local government areas through random sampling. Data collected covered preferred information topics, information source types, access frequency, and perceived information quality. Descriptive statistics and ranking analysis were applied. Results revealed that soil fertility management, crop disease control, and market prices were the most frequently cited information needs, with 78 percent of women ranking timely price information as critically important. Radio broadcasts and village extension agents were the most accessed information sources, but only 36 percent of women had interacted with an extension agent in the preceding six months. Mobile phone-based information services were accessed by only 22 percent of respondents, limited by low digital literacy and handset ownership. The study recommends designing culturally appropriate women-specific extension information campaigns in Katsina State and expanding mobile agricultural advisory services accessible through basic feature phones. Extension services should prioritise topics directly aligned with women farmers' production and marketing information needs. Keywords: agricultural information, women farmers, Katsina State, extension services, information sources.