Source, Availability and Use of Agricultural Information and Innovation in Benishangul Gumuz Region of Ethiopia

Agriculture remains the main source of income for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. Agricultural information in turn plays a great role in increasing production, productivity and marketing in agriculture. Consequently the study was aimed at assessing the source, use and availability of agricultural information in the study areas and, a total of 38 Development Agents (DAs) and experts were sampled from three districts and nine Kebele Administrations. The research results revealed that, lack of access to agricultural research services, lack of access to agricultural inputs (fertilizer, improved seed and recommended agronomic practices) are mentioned to be the constrained factors of agricultural extension services directly or indirectly for DAs and experts. Finally, the results of inferential statistics showed that the source, availability and use of agricultural information for extension services have statistically associated with access to agricultural information from news paper, access to information from Woreda agricultural bureau, access to up to date information from Woreda agriculture office and NGOs, availability of clear agricultural information obtained from Woreda agricultural offices, field visits, information about new agricultural technologies via extension and audio cassette and knowledge on the current extension packages. Therefore, we suggest that investing in development works by improving the availability and utilization of the current agricultural information would enhance the production and productivity of agriculture in general and effectiveness of extension workers in particular. Keywords : Extension, agricultural information, innovation