Factors affecting use of information communication technologies among extension agents in North-East, Nigeria

Abstract

The study identified the levels of ICT use, awareness, accessibility, perceived organizational support, assessed the perception of the respondents on problems in using ICTs for agriculture extension work and, clarifies the relationships between awareness, accessibility, perceived organizational support, and use of ICTs. Data were collected through the use of a questionnaire distributed to 254 respondents using a multi-stage sampling and stratified sampling procedures. Mean, frequency, standard deviation and structural equation modelling in analysis of morement structure (AMOS) was used. Findings revealed that levels of ICT use (x̄ = 3.43), awareness (x̄ =3.40) accessibility (x̄ 3.66), and perceived organizational support (x̄ 3.574) were moderates. The high cost of ICT garget (x̄ =4.71), poor electricity supply (x̄ =4.69), lack of training (x̄ =4.63), ICT illiteracy (x̄ =4.61), outdated contents (x̄ =4.61), inability to use ICT (x̄ =4.55) and network issue (x̄ =4.34) were the critical problems in using ICTs in extension work. There was relationship between awareness, accessibility and motivation with ICT adoption among extension agents. Governments should design a policy that will focus on awareness, training, access to ICTs among the extension agents, provide an alternative source of power, this will enable them to remain within the system and also increase their usage of ICTs in extension service delivery.

Influence of Socio-economic Factors on the Use of Information Dissemination Channels among Groundnut Farmers in Northwest Nigeria

“…Enhancing farmers' access to valuable agricultural information leads to higher productivity and sustainability (Sa'adu et al, 2022). Extension methods used in technology transfer could be individual, group and mass media (Ariyo, 2021).…”

Agriculture's Digitalization and Place of Accounting Profession

“…These are merely the initial steps, though, and further research and execution are needed. Even with the automation of accounting, the requirement for an accountant-bookkeeper has started to decline and is now entirely replaced by an accountant operator who inputs raw data into the information system (Mustapha, et al, 2020). The future of the accounting profession is being seen in oppositional ways as a result of this circumstance.…”

Access to Credit and Its Relationship with Information and Communication Technology Tools’ Adoption in Agricultural Extension among Peasants in Rangwe Sub-County, Kenya

“…Access level to agricultural credit is the percent of smallholder farmers able to receive agricultural credit to be used in farm production [15]. Tiwari [8] reported that smallholder farmers require funds to buy ICT tools and maintain them in good working conditions as well as subscribe to agricultural extension services.…”

“…In Kenya, especially in Rangwe Sub-County, access to credit from money lending institutions is accredited as a significant accelerator in agricultural technology adoption like the use of ICT tools. The smallholder farmers may access credit from public and private institutions such as banks, farmer groups, friends, and relatives [15]. Çetin et al [20] found that some of the smallholder farmers who had used mobile phones to share agricultural information had not received agricultural credit from any source.…”