THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PERSONNEL IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

To enhance agricultural production in developing countries, the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in extension delivery services is of great importance. This study examined personal characteristics of respondents, type of ICTs available, benefits of use of ICTs and constraints to use of ICTs among extension officers in Lagos State. Simple random sampling technique was used to select one hundred (100) Agricultural Extension Personnel from among the Extension agents employed in the State’s ministry of agriculture and cooperative. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentage and mean were used to present and summarize the data. Inferential statistics (chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation) were used to describe the type of relationship that exists between the variables in the stated hypotheses. The mean age of the respondents was 39years. Fifty five (55%) were females, and 57% of respondents were B. Sc. holders. Majority (70.0%) were married and 64% were Christians. The mean job experience of the respondents was 16years. Availability of radio set rated high by majority (72%) while 91.0% of respondents had access to radio set. In provision of current information; television was rated high by majority (93%) while in contacting farmers, extension service delivery and improved production; mobile phone was rated high mostly (80%), (84%) and (78%), respectively. High access charge of internet was identified as constraint among majority (81%) of the respondents. Inferential statistics revealed a significant relationship between personal characteristics of respondents and use of ICTs such as age (X2 = 5.2003, P<0.05), religion (X2 = 3.822, P<0.05) are related, further result of correlation test of relationship between personal characteristics. Age (r = 0.183, P<0.05) and Educational level (r = 0.218, P<0.05) and use of ICTs were significantly related. Moreover, test of analysis showed significant relationship between type of ICTs available (r = 0.605, P<0.05) and use of ICTs. In conclusion, higher education level of respondents affected their use of ICTs and influenced by their age. Therefore, the development agencies/institutions involved in Agricultural extension programmes should be sincere and improve upon their efforts.