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The study assessed the awareness and use of e-resources among public extension personnel in the area. Stratified sampling technique was used in selecting respondents from each cadre of the Anambra State Agricultural Development Programme (ASADEP). A total of sixty-nine (69) agricultural extension staff was used for the study. Findings show the major e-resource tool that was available to the majority (94.2%) of extension staff in the area was mobile phone, while 62.3% indicated that computer was available to them. The majority (69.6%) of the respondents were each aware of Facebook, and email, while 56.5% were aware of twitter. Among those who were aware of email, the majority (59.4%) indicated they used it while 43.5% of those that were aware of Facebook indicated they used it. Results show that 15.9% of the respondents indicated they used e-journal in exchanging information on pests and diseases, 10.1% exchanged weather and climate information on e-mail, while 11.6% each indicated they used email to exchange information on farm inputs and market prices. On the other hand, 10.1% each used e-journal and e-mail to exchange information on processing methods. The study concluded by drawing attention to the very low adoption of e-resources in extension service delivery in the area. Efforts should be made by both federal and state governments to provide enabling technological environment and training opportunities for extension personnel in order to improve e-extension which is a veritable alternative towards solving the issues of dearth in extension staff that has been a persistent problem plaguing extension service in the country.

The study examined the use of herbicides among rural women farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. Using a multistage sampling technique, 70 farmers were selected. Data were collected using structured interview schedule and were analysed using descriptive statistics. Some of the herbicides used by the respondents were Primextra (22.9%), Force up (21.5%), Raze down (18.6%) and Tackle (18.6%). The majority (64.3%) applied herbicide twice in one growing season. The mean quantity applied was 8.5 litres. On the farmers' knowledge level of use of herbicides, the majority (51.8%) of the women had moderate knowledge on herbicide technology The respondents practised cleaning and rinsing of sprayers after use ( =1.31), using separate utensil for mixing herbicides ( =1.39) and washing of clothes used or spraying separately from other clothes ( =1.14). The perceived major constraints to the use of herbicides were inadequate training ( =1.12), inadequate awareness ( =1.10), and high cost of herbicides ( =1.07). The study concluded that most of the farmers had moderate level of knowledge and poor practises on herbicide use and this will likely have negative impact on the crop and health of farmers and hence recommended increase in extension contact for awareness and training of farmers on right use of herbicides.

The study assessed perceived factors influencing farmers’ preference for rice varieties grown in Enugu State, Nigeria. A structured interview schedule was used to obtain information from 150 rice farmers. Data collected were analysed using frequency counts and percentages. The major rice varieties grown by the farmers were Faro 44 (60.7%), R8 (28.7%) and Mass II (20.7%). The farmers’ major sources of information that perhaps influenced their preferences for rice varieties were fellow farmers (93.3%) and personal observation (86.7%).The farmers’ perceived factors influencing preference of varieties were high yield (74.7%) and cooking characteristics like not sticking together on cooking (64.0%), nice taste (60.0%) and rising better while cooking (59.4%). Aside from the preference for FARO 44 rice variety because of high yield, the perceived factors influencing farmers’ preference of other rice varieties (R8 and Mass) were mainly because of seed availability. Therefore, farmers need information on affordable sources of FARO 44 rice seeds for higher yield that could increase their profit and raise their standard of living.