This is a report of the use that farm operators make of twenty-seven different sources of agricultural information and the attitudes that they hold toward these sources. In addition, several concepts are described and delineated in order to precisely define the areas of concern of the study. Personal interviews were conducted with a stratified random sample of 147 farm operators in the County of Two Hills in the province of Alberta. A primary purpose was to determine any associations that might exist between seventeen selected socio-economic characteristics of the farm operator and his use of and attitude toward each source of agricultural information included in the study. The study also suggests that farmers may be grouped according to their information seeking activity. It presents a model for such groupings and identifies some of the socio-economic characteristics which may describe the persons in each group. Scaling techniques were used and correlation coefficients were calculated for all possible associations. The data were processed at the Computing Centre at the University of British Columbia. The study reports the associations existing between each socio-economic characteristic and the use of all sources of information as well as attitude toward each source of information. Each source of information was examined with respect to the use of the other sources of information. Attitudes were also examined on a similar basis. The final examination of data identifies 3 groups of respondents based on their information seeking activity. It also determines that certain socio-economic characteristics may be useful to identify these groups. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

The purpose of this creative project was to develop a program on video tape that would briefly explain the local Cooperative Extension Office, the programs and the assistance available. Audio-visual material available prior to this consisted of one slide tape set approximately 10 years old. In the new video tape a short history of Extension, and an overview of each area of the local Extension Office are explained, using examples of how the local Extension Agents provide assistance to the community. The disciplines include 4-H, Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences and Community Development.Development of the video tape included planning, script writing, filming, editing and documentation of the project. The major task was to present the best, most informative material explaining the role of Extension with-out being long and boring. By showing preliminary tapes to control groups and making changes as suggested. A final format was established that should most effectively explain the Extension Office and its services.

Orientador: Antonio Francisco Magnoni / Banca: José Aparecido dos Santos / Banca: Denis Porto Reno / Resumo: Esta dissertação estuda a Comunicação rural pública no Estado de São Paulo. Primeiramente, foi elaborada uma pesquisa bibliográfica exploratória para compreender esse cenário considerado relevante para o Brasil. Em seguida, o estudo de caso para conhecer a comunicação exercida pela Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento do estado de São Paulo (SAA), por meio da Coordenadoria de Assistência Técnica Integral (CATI) e do Centro de Comunicação Rural (CECOR), responsáveis pelo conteúdo jornalístico produzido e divulgado para o público rural ou interessados pela área. A pesquisa apresenta os veículos de comunicação mais utilizados por esse órgão público para informar e entreter os produtores rurais. Analisamos o site, o boletim online, Catálogo de Publicações e a Revista Casa da Agricultura. / Abstract: This dissertation studies public rural communication in the state of São Paulo. First it created a bibliographical research to understand this scenario considered relevant to Brazil. Then the case study to know the communication exercised by the Secretary of Agriculture of the State of São Paulo (SAA) through the Coordination of Integral Technical Assistance (CATI) and Rural Communication Center (CECOR), responsible for content journalistic produced and released to the public or interested in the rural area. The research shows that the media most used by this government agency to inform and entertain the farmers. We have analyzed the site, the online newsletter, Publications Catalogue and Magazine House of Agriculture. / Mestre

This study investigated how access to and use of agricultural information contributed to farmers’ adaptation to climate change and variability in the semi-arid Maluga and Chibelela villages of central Tanzania. The major research problem this study sought to address was how information on adaptation to climate change and variability is packaged and disseminated to farmers. Specifically, the study 1) identified the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa project goals of disseminating information to farmers on climate change and variability; 2) assessed the status of knowledge adaptation to climate change and variability by farmers; 3) determined farmers’ access to, and use of, information on climate change and variability, and 4) investigated factors affecting access to, and use of, information on adaptation to climate change and variability by farmers. The study was underpinned by Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations Model. A post-positivist approach was used, with a predominantly qualitative and lesser quantitative approach, respectively. Interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data. The study population was made up of farmers, agricultural extension officers and the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa project manager. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and the SPSS, while qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. Reliability and validity were ensured by methodological triangulation, pretesting the interview guides and careful transcription of the data. The key findings showed that farmers’ training is crucial in mitigating the impacts of climate change and variability for agricultural development. The study found farmers had a problem with accessing and using climate information. Farmers perceived scientific information on weather as unreliable and untimely and were turning to indigenous knowledge (IK) to predict weather patterns. Repackaging of timely and accurate information on climate change and variability, education and training for farmers and collaboration between researchers, meteorology experts, extension officers and farmers are recommended for implementation to mitigate the adverse effect of climate change and variability on farmers. A clear policy framework for the dissemination of information related to climate change and variability is needed. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

The research sought to examine the effect of literacy on access to, and utilization of agricultural information for household food security at Chirau Communal lands in Zimbabwe. The study was influenced by the diffusion of innovations approach based on interviews, observation and document study. Selected female farmers from Chirau communal lands were respondents to the self administered interviews and focus group discussions. Representatives from, Agriculture Extension and the Ministry of Agriculture were key informants. Systematic Random sampling was used to select 100 female respondents from the age of 18 to above 80 from wards 1 to 10 of Chirau Rural District in Zimbabwe. Data was analyzed into themes and coded for statistical analysis using the SPSS. The country is faced with food insecurity and the main findings of this study support the view that women play an active role in food production but their potential is limited by inadequate levels of literacy that affect the way they access and utilize resources for sustainable agriculture and household food security among other factors. This may be generalized to the situation of female farmers in Zimbabwe. Improved literacy competencies among the female farmers in Zimbabwe lends itself as one of the interventions that may assist in improving access to information and its effective utilization.. This calls decision-makers to boost literacy for women, develop available agricultural information resources and harness effort towards making them accessible. While interventions may be multi-sectored, the role of government is stressed in this report.

Printed information access, preferences and use by small-scale farmers in KwaZulu-Natal, who are experimenting with or converting to organic farming, were investigated to establish the need for information on organic production, certification, and marketing. Forty-six resource-poor farmers from four groups at Umbumbulu, Tugela Ferry, KwaMashu and Muden participated in semi-structured group interviews. Guiding questions, information tabulation, ranking and sorting, and voting were used to gather data. Five printed agricultural information materials were evaluated. The findings indicated that the participants trusted and relied on intermediaries for access to innovative, research-based information, and preferred interpersonal communication over other information channels. Printed materials were valued for their permanence, while participants preferred materials in isiZulu as 75% of participants were able to read and write isiZulu or were able to ask family members to read materials in isiZulu. At least one functionally literate farmer was a member of each of the participating farmer groups. Appropriate printed information on organic production, certification and marketing had not reached the participants. Characteristics of printed information materials preferred by participating farmers included: large typeface, photographs, drawings, step-by-step instructions, stories about people and events, context-specific content, the use of plain language in English or preferably isiZulu. / Thesis (M.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.