The Impact of ICT on the Productivity of Urban Farmers in Nigeria : The Case Study of Abuja , FCT , Nigeria (original) (raw)
Related papers
The Impact of Education on Small-scale Farmers’ Use of ICT in Abuja, Nigeria
2016
The study examined the impact of farmers’ level of education on the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) – radio, television, GSM phone video, agricultural books, camera and computer. A multistage technique was adopted for sampling while questionnaire was used for data collection. A total of 320 farmers made up of those who had primary, secondary, post-secondary and no formal school education were interviewed. Data were analyzed using two-way mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that, on average, farmers with post-secondary education significantly (p < .05) used all the types ICT more than those who had at most secondary education. There was no significant difference (p > .05) between farmers who had secondary and primary education in the use of all types of ICT but farmers who had secondary education significantly (p < .05) used ICT more than those with no formal school education. On the contrary, there was no significant difference (p > .05...
Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2013
The study examines the contributions of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) towards Agricultural Development among Agricultural Researchers in Ibadan North West Local Government Area of Oyo State. Random sampling technique was used in the selection of 50 respondents that constitute the sample size for the study. Primary data were collected through the use of a well-structured questionnaire from the Agricultural researchers. Frequency counts, Percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) were used to analyse the data. Analysis of the data revealed collected that majority (70%) of the respondents are male, (64%) are married and (58%) had ICT usage experience of 1-5years. The result also shows that the mean age of the respondents is 36.5years while (62%) had Post Graduate degree education. There is a significant relationship between contributions of ICT facilities to agricultural development and selected agricultural websites accessed which are worldagriculture.com(r = 0.044, p= 0.002), moa.gov.jm (r = 0.364, p= 0.010), iita.org (r = 0.358, p= 0.012) and agweb.com (r = 0.435, p= 0.002). The study therefore recommends that internet facilities should be made available and affordable to agricultural researchers to enhance their accessibility, usage and contributions to agricultural development.
The study examines the access of farmers to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi state, Nigeria. A total of 120 respondents were randomly selected in the study area. Data were collected using pre-tested questionnaires and analyzed using percentages, means, chi-squire and other parametric statistical tools. For the purpose of the research, ICTs were divided in to two categories: conventional (Radio/Television) and contemporary or modern (computer/internet and GSM). Results showed that radio was the most widely accessible ICT by the respondents (98.33%) it was followed by television (41.67%), GSM (40.00%) and the least computer/internet (5.00%). Chi-square analysis revealed that age, background and educational level of respondents were significant (P ≤ 0.05) with access to modern ICTs. Kruskal-Willis rank test on reception of ICT services was not significant because on the average, at least the service of one of the categories of ICTs was received by respondents in all the villages studied. Mann-Whitney rank test on the problems confronting the respondents was significant (P ≤ 0.05) with access to ICTs. Thus, it is recommended that widespread education on the use of modern ICTs especially computer/internet and intensification of the use of existing conventional ICTs particularly the radio will bring a turning point in ICTs access and reception in the study area.
Awareness & utilization level of ICT in mechanized farming in Lavun LGA ( NIGER STATE, NIGERIA)
Awareness level & utilization of ICT in mechanized farming, 2018
Information and communication technology is a propellant to agricultural productivity in a state that make use of its tools, with the emergent of fast internet network connection in the world today, it is realized that most of Nigerian farmers’ level of utilization of ICT-Based technology is low, this led to the study of Niger state farmers as a case study, precisely Kuso farmers in Lavun LGA. Niger state is one of the states were agricultural thrives in Nigeria. This study is channel down to assess the awareness level and utilization of Internet and GSM usage among famers’ who practice mechanized agriculture. This study was carried out by the researchers among 100 farmers randomly were interviewed from Busu, Kuso and Gaba axis of Lavun, LGA in Niger state, from the responses of the farmers, study shows that farmers have 5 to 10 years farming experience 70% of the total population while to get the modern and best agricultural practice to this farmers is a challenge, communication challenge is one of this prominent challenge because the best and modern agricultural practice that needs to disseminated to the farmers but extensions workers who disseminate this information to the farmers is not reliable though 85% of the farmers agreed that they prefer Extension workers means of gathering agricultural information to smartphones with 6% of the farmers prefers smartphones even though 63% of them are literate with at least SSCE/OND degree, while 35% have no formal Education but the 85% of the population prefer extension services as earlier mentioned. The awareness level of farmers on the importance of internet and GSM use is low with 53% and while 47% realized its importance but from the response it shows that high cost of internet and GSM usage among this population response on the cost of mobile communication charges 86% high compared to 14% who disagree among the populationand the internet connection is 79% slow, this shows that it affects productivity. Though most of these farmers have ICT gadgets that can be used for accessing the internet and get other vital and reliable information and also creates awareness of the its (Internet and GSM) importance but the mentioned challenges above are factors limiting productivity, also electricity is also a challenge in Niger state. Recommendations has been made to solve this challenge in this study, Extension workers are needed to be properly recruited and trained and more government interventions is needed though there are some Private-Public Interventions initiated through the central bank of Nigeria like NIRSAL, AADS and so on.
The study assessed the socioeconomic determinants of access and utilization of ICTs among farmers in Southeast Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling techniques were employed in selection of 240 Farmers as source of primary data for the study, using structured and validated questionnaire schedule. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in the analysis of data generated from the field survey for study. The result of the analysis showed that the following socioeconomic variables: age, gender, family size, income level, membership of cooperative societies, farming experience, and distance from place of ICTs were statistically significant at 5% for farmers access to ICT facilities, while age, gender, educational attainment, income level, membership of cooperative societies, and presence of associated ICTs infrastructure showed statistically significant at 5% for farmers level of ICTs utilization in the area. This goes to shows that these variables are important determinants of farmers' access to and utilization of ICTs. The result of factor analysis showed that infrastructural, technical and socioeconomic related factors constrained access and utilization of ICTs by farmers. The study recommends the institutionalization of programme such as extension education, training etc. that will promote the development of these socioeconomic variables, the strengthening of the use of contemporary ICTs such as phones and internet, rather than conventional ICTs such as radio and television through provision of advisory services to farmers on how to pool their resources together for the purpose of establishing rural viewing centre, provision of adequate training on the use of ICTs for greater effectiveness of ICTs access and utilization in farming operations in Southeast, Nigeria.
Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 2018
This study focused on knowledge and perception of farmers on information and communication technology (ICT) use in Ife Central Local Government Area of Osun State. A pretested and validated interview schedule was used to source information from 150 farmers selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used to analyze the data collected. The result revealed among others, that the mean age of the respondents was 47.29 years, while the mean income was 505,600 Naira. Furthermore, majority (76.0%) of the farmers had a low awareness of ICT use, while majority (76.0%) of the farmers had a low knowledge of ICT. Also, majority (84.7%) of the farmers had an indifferent perception on ICT use. Number of year of formal education of farmers, knowledge on ICT and perception on ICT use explained 38.8% of the change in farmers' awareness on ICT in the study area. The study recommended that anytime programme that should improve the awareness of farmers' on ICT is being planned, the significant variables should be considered.
This study looked at the relevance of agriculture in the Nigeria society and the need for employment and application of information and communication technology into agricultural sector as a solution to unemployment in Nigeria. As information and communication technology is a booming sector of the economy which presently engaged the young generations of Nigerians, it can as well be used to improve economic development in Nigeria. Data was gathered through qualitative method with focus group and individual in-depth interview as tool. Participants were selected randomly from a group of students, farmers, and traders in Ogun and Lagos States of Nigeria. It was however discovered that although government support was essential in improving the agriculture sector in Nigeria, it was also important for citadels of learning and the private sector to join hands in creating the much needed awareness amongst the youths on the significant of the application of ICT in agriculture. The study also revealed that there is need to include agricultural studies into present day school curricular as well as create massive awareness through the mass media, especially Nollywood industry to portray agriculture sector in a good light in order to ensure economic growth and uptake by the younger generations.
Raising farmers' productivity and incomes are a necessity. This study investigated the roles ICTs play in improving farmers agricultural livelihoods. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 250 agricultural producers were chosen randomly from 10 agricultural cooperatives in Imo state. Data were collected by means of questionnaire and analyzed by using percentages and means presented in tables. Results indicated that majority (65.6%) were males, with a mean age of 43.5 years, the mean farm size was 2.4 hectare and an average of 23 years farming experience. The ICT devices used included radio, mobile phones, computers, internet, magazines, newspapers. The agricultural livelihood activities included cash crop productions. fish farming, poultry keeping etc. ICT roles for improving livelihood of farmers included provision of market information (M=3.37), building farmers capacity (M=3.05), reduction of household risk (M=3.53) among others. ICTs play important roles in farmers welfare and should be encouraged for use by farmers in both rural and urban areas.
Library Philosophy and Practice, 2013
This study focused on the use of ICTs by yam farmers in Boluwaduro Local Government Area of Osun State. The study made use of cross-sectional research design and data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire from 150 respondents selected through random sampling technique from five towns in the local government area. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis in finding relationships between variables. The findings show that most of the yam farmers in Boluwaduro that use ICTs as a source of agricultural information had secondary education and they were between the average ages of 35 years. The result supports the assertion that ease of access and availability were the major factors that influences the preference for ICTs use by the yam farmers in the LGA, and also, television, radio and mobile phone were the most preferred ICTs tools for agricultural information by the yam farmers. It was discovered that infrastructural facilities is the major problem constraining the use of ICTs by the yam farmers in Boluwaduro, and that demographic factors does not have any significant relationship with the use of ICTs by Boluwaduro yam farmers. While strong relationship existed between problem encountered and ICTs use by the yam farmers in Boluwaduro. Better infrastructure provision was also advocated to encourage the use of ICTs by the yam farmers.
Technology Usage and Awareness among Smallholder Farmers in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria
The usage of ICT has recently received global attention due to its link (both in developed and developing nations) to the adoption of new farming technologies. The purpose of this study was to investigate technology usage and awareness among smallholder farmers in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria. It investigated the impact of ICT awareness and use, including radio, television, laptop computer, desktop computer, fax machine, cable television, projector, digital camera tablets, smart phone, and internet, using primary data collected from 100 respondents using structured questionnaires and a simple random sampling technique. The majority of respondents (30%) were between the ages of 36 and 45, with males accounting for 51% and females contributing for 41%. Descriptive (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The analysis revealed that the use of modern ICTs such as mobile phones and cable television has a significant impact on the agricultural productivity of smallholder farmers, as evidenced by the respondents' rapid increase in productivity and improvement in their standard of living. Farmers' challenges, however, included high costs, lack of training, and ICT service failure. The Nigerian government should promote a liberal policy that will improve rural infrastructure and provide an enabling environment, and remote residents should have access to the internet and other mobile communication technologies, which would increase their overall use of ICT services.