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Use of ICTs as a Source of Information for Improving Agricultural Productivity in South-West, Nigeria

Received: 8 March 2017     Accepted: 27 March 2017     Published: 13 April 2017
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Abstract

The study investigates respondent’s access to use of ICTs as a source of information for improving agricultural productivity. A well-structured questionnaire was used for data collection from the respondents. The specific objectives of the study that addressed Socio- economic characteristics, awareness of various ICTs, knowledge on ICT use and constraints facing ICT usage. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean. Inferential statistics such as Chi-Square was used to establish relationship. The results obtained revealed that family members constitute the major source of information to the famers in the study areas. This is followed by radio, mobile phone and internet while extension agents rarely provide information to the famers. Findings also revealed a high rate of competence in the use of mobile phones, radio, and television sets while respondents indicated low competence level in the use of video-conferencing and fax, the attitude of farmers has a significant level of effect on the productivity of farmers. Their attitude had a 10% level of significance on the productivity among others. Policy makers should try to make agricultural information readily available through mobile devices, since they were most commonly used and since most farmers did not have contact with extension agents; hence more extension agents should be engaged in order to reach the farmers adequately.

Published in International Journal of Agricultural Economics (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijae.20170203.11
Page(s) 50-54
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Information and Communication Technologies, Source, Information, Agricultural, Productivity

References
[1] United Nations. 2005. The Millennium Development Goals Report 2005. Available at: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/mi/pdf/MDG%20Book.pdf.
[2] Okumadewa, F. (1997): “Poverty and Income in Nigeria: Measurements and Strategies for Reform”. A paper presented at the Vision 2010 Workshop, Abuja.
[3] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2004). Institute building to strengthen agricultural extension. 27th FAO regional conference for Asia and the pacific Beijing, china, May, 17th – 21.
[4] Ortmann, G. F. 2000. Use of information technology in South African agriculture. Agrekon, 39(1): 26-35.
[5] Guermazi, B. and Satola, D. 2005. Creating the “Right” enabling environment for ICT. In Schware, R. (ed). E-development: Excitement to Effectiveness. Washington: World Bank.
[6] Marker et al., 2002. ICT in agriculture: Perspectives of technological innovation. Jerusalem: EFITA.
[7] Jorge, S. 2002. The economics of ICT: challenges and practical strategies of ICT use for women’s economic empowerment. Proceedings of the Expert group meeting on “Information communication technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women”. Seoul, Korea, 11-14 November 2002.
[8] Fors, E M. & Moreno, A. 2002. The benefits and obstacles of implementing ICTs strategies for development from a bottom-up approach. Aslib Proceedings, 54(3):198-206.
[9] Gelb, E. and Parker, C. 2006. Is ICT Adoption for Agriculture Still an Important Issue? Proceedings, 5th AFITA Conference, Bangloru, India.
[10] Miranda, F. R., Yoder, R. E., Wilkerson, J. B. & Odhiambo, L.O. 2005. An autonomous controller for Site-specific management of fixed irrigation Systems. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 48:183-197.
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  • APA Style

    Toluwase S. O. W., Apata O. M. (2017). Use of ICTs as a Source of Information for Improving Agricultural Productivity in South-West, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Economics, 2(3), 50-54. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20170203.11

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    ACS Style

    Toluwase S. O. W.; Apata O. M. Use of ICTs as a Source of Information for Improving Agricultural Productivity in South-West, Nigeria. Int. J. Agric. Econ. 2017, 2(3), 50-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijae.20170203.11

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    AMA Style

    Toluwase S. O. W., Apata O. M. Use of ICTs as a Source of Information for Improving Agricultural Productivity in South-West, Nigeria. Int J Agric Econ. 2017;2(3):50-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijae.20170203.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijae.20170203.11,
      author = {Toluwase S. O. W. and Apata O. M.},
      title = {Use of ICTs as a Source of Information for Improving Agricultural Productivity in South-West, Nigeria},
      journal = {International Journal of Agricultural Economics},
      volume = {2},
      number = {3},
      pages = {50-54},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijae.20170203.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20170203.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijae.20170203.11},
      abstract = {The study investigates respondent’s access to use of ICTs as a source of information for improving agricultural productivity. A well-structured questionnaire was used for data collection from the respondents. The specific objectives of the study that addressed Socio- economic characteristics, awareness of various ICTs, knowledge on ICT use and constraints facing ICT usage. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean. Inferential statistics such as Chi-Square was used to establish relationship. The results obtained revealed that family members constitute the major source of information to the famers in the study areas. This is followed by radio, mobile phone and internet while extension agents rarely provide information to the famers. Findings also revealed a high rate of competence in the use of mobile phones, radio, and television sets while respondents indicated low competence level in the use of video-conferencing and fax, the attitude of farmers has a significant level of effect on the productivity of farmers. Their attitude had a 10% level of significance on the productivity among others. Policy makers should try to make agricultural information readily available through mobile devices, since they were most commonly used and since most farmers did not have contact with extension agents; hence more extension agents should be engaged in order to reach the farmers adequately.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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    AU  - Apata O. M.
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20170203.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijae.20170203.11
    T2  - International Journal of Agricultural Economics
    JF  - International Journal of Agricultural Economics
    JO  - International Journal of Agricultural Economics
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    AB  - The study investigates respondent’s access to use of ICTs as a source of information for improving agricultural productivity. A well-structured questionnaire was used for data collection from the respondents. The specific objectives of the study that addressed Socio- economic characteristics, awareness of various ICTs, knowledge on ICT use and constraints facing ICT usage. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean. Inferential statistics such as Chi-Square was used to establish relationship. The results obtained revealed that family members constitute the major source of information to the famers in the study areas. This is followed by radio, mobile phone and internet while extension agents rarely provide information to the famers. Findings also revealed a high rate of competence in the use of mobile phones, radio, and television sets while respondents indicated low competence level in the use of video-conferencing and fax, the attitude of farmers has a significant level of effect on the productivity of farmers. Their attitude had a 10% level of significance on the productivity among others. Policy makers should try to make agricultural information readily available through mobile devices, since they were most commonly used and since most farmers did not have contact with extension agents; hence more extension agents should be engaged in order to reach the farmers adequately.
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Author Information
  • Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

  • Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

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