Abstract:
This work investigated information needs and information dissemination to artisanal fishermen in selected communities in three local Government areas of Benue State. Six (6) research questions guided the study. The work sought to find out the demographic characteristic of artisanal fishermen, their information needs, methods of information dissemination, the roles of public libraries in extension services, challenges associated with agricultural information dissemination and strategies for enhancing agricultural information dissemination to artisanal fishermen in Benue state. Descriptive survey design was used and the sample size of 198 fishermen out of the total population of 391 was selected. The instruments of the study were questionnaires which have (94) ninety-four items, structured interview and focus group discussion used based on the questionnaire.These instruments were used to embraced categories of artisanal fishermen. Descriptive statistics method such as frequencies, simple percentages and mean (x̅) were used to analyze the data. These information were presented in tables, bar and pie charts for clarification. The study reveals that both sex engaged in the artisanal industry in the state, however, males were the dominant group. Also, a little proportion of artisanal fishermen (34%) had western education that cut across all levels.The fishing industry is dominated by young energetic adults who are in the middle ages. The major methods of information to artisanal fishermen include traditional and modern sources like traditional fishing festivals, community fishing competitions, radio and cell phone. Results also show that, the information needs of fishermen in Benue state are mostly occupationally directed, such as effects of obnoxious fishing practices, conflict resolution, fish processing, storage and preservation. Public libraries have not done much in supporting extension workers in disseminating information to artisanal fishermen. However, they provide agricultural journals, books, fisheries magazines and pamphlets that are expected to aid extension services to artisanal fishermen.The challenges of disseminating information to artisanal fishermen were acute shortage of librarians/extension workers and lack of linkage between public libraries and extension workers. It was recommended that more librarians and extension workers be recruited and there should be a linkage between librarians and extension workers.Conclusively, the information needs and information dissemination of artisanal fishermen in the study area are not well met and this resulted to low productivity. Therefore, the dissemination of adequate, relevant and current information to artisanal fishermen will increase fish production rate in the state.
