The study examines information sources and participation levels of cattle rearers in Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) intervention programmes in Jigawa and Nasarawa states, Nigeria. The specific objectives are to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of farmers in the study area, investigate the impact of PATTEC on farmers’ access to information on the control of tsetse and trypanosomiasis disease in the study area, evaluate the level of participation of cattle rearers in PATTEC project activities in the study area, and identify the constraints against cattle rearing activities in the study area. Multistage sampling techniques were used to sample 640 respondents for the study. The socio-economic characteristics results revealed that 66.5% of cattle rearers in Jigawa State had no formal education; in Nasarawa State, 52.0% did. The average farming experience of the farmers in both states was 28 years. The mean household size of farmers in Jigawa State was 8; in Nasarawa State, it was 12. The average annual income of cattle rearers in Jigawa and Nasarawa States was ₦3,028,393.1 and ₦2,282,368.75, respectively. The study revealed that, in Nasarawa State, 99.7% of social media users relied on radio, while 100% relied on telephone. Similarly, in Jigawa, 99.0% relied on radio, while 99.6% used telephone. Institutional sources of information in Jigawa State are veterinary doctors (100%), extension agents (100%), cooperative societies (100%), and village heads (100%). In Nasarawa State, extension agents (100%), cooperative societies (100%), and village heads (100%). Level of PATTEC project participation, which has the highest mean score, is participation in training on the use of clothing in a tsetse-infested environment with a mean score of 2.67, followed by training on the use of treated nets for protection with a mean score of 1.98 and the use of trypantolerant breed of cattle with a mean score of 1.92. The study further revealed that the major constraints faced by cattle rearers in the study area were conversion of cattle routes to crop fields, Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis diseases, access to finance, etc. The study recommended that the government establish adult education programs in the States. The government should strengthen sensitization campaigns to improve the levels of participation in PATTEC. Social media and institutional sources of information should also be used in the dissemination of information on PATTEC activities to farmers.
Keywords: Agricultural Extension, Cattle rearers, Information Sources, PATTEC, Participation levels, Trypanosomiasis control
