ADOPTION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN DISSEMINATION OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES TO FARMERS IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA: A PARADIGM SHIFT

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) is a modern means of disseminating agricultural extension services to farmers. Extension agents’ adoption of ICTs in the dissemination of agricultural extension services to farmers in Delta State, Nigeria as a paradigm shift was examined in this study. The objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the extension agents, identify the ICTs that are within the extension agents reach for use, ascertain respondents’ level of adoption of ICTs and factors limiting extension agents’ effective use of ICTs in disseminating agricultural information to farmers in the study area. Fifty-eight (58) respondents were randomly selected from Delta North and South agricultural zones of the State. Descriptive and inferential statistics were respectively used to analyze objectives and hypotheses of the study. Results revealed that the average age, household size and work experience were 43.28 years, 6 persons and 13.05 years, respectively. The respondents’ level of adoption of ICT tools was high (72.41%). Lack of funds, on-the-job training, supportive services from government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), electricity supply and technical skills were of the serious constraints limiting effective use of ICTs by the extension agents. Other limiting factors were high cost of the tools and poor network coverage. Socio-economic variables like sex, age, educational level and work experience were found to have significantly influenced on the level of adoption of ICTs in dissemination of agricultural information to farmers. The study also revealed a significant difference between respondents with high from those with low level of adoption of ICTs. The study recommended an improvement in electricity supply to those areas where it is epileptic and the push of network providers to make network available to those areas where such is lacking or poor.