Availability and Use of Modern Information and Communication Technologies among Farmers in Orumba South Lga of Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study ascertained the availability and use of telecommunication/computer information and communication technologies among farmers in Orumba South L.G.A of Anambra State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to describe the demographic characteristics of the farmers in the study area, identify Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in telecommunication/computer available to the farmers and ascertain the use of ICTs to contact and non-contact farmers in the study area. Data for the study were generated from structured questionnaire. A sample size of 114 farmers made up of 36 contact and 78 non-contact farmers were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data analysis were by the use of descriptive (frequencies, percentages and mean) and inferential (t-test) statistical tools. The result showed that majority (54.39%) of the farmers are within the active and innovative age category. Majority (87.72%) are married and have one form of education or another. Their farm holdings are small-scaled and majority (99%) of the farmers are experienced while 68.42% are non-contact farmer. Availability of telephone /GSM rating is 57% while computer is 52.6%. Both contact and non-contact farmers make more use of telephone/GSM than other items. The test of the hypothesis showed that calculated t-value of 2.64 is greater than the tabulated t-value of 1.96 at 0.05 level of significance and 112 degree of freedom. Thus the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference in the mean responses of the contact and non-contact farmers in the use of ICT facilities in the study area is rejected. Therefore, the contact farmers differed significantly from the non-contact farmers in their mean responses with respect to the use of ICT facilities for extension purposes. It was recommended that both contact and non-contact farmers should be exposed to the use of other telecommunication/computer other than telephone/GSM and computer.

Keywords: modern information and communication technologies

Journal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR) Vol. 11, No. 1, 2011