An Investigation on the Utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Among Agricultural Extension Workers in Nigeria
Chapter One
Objectives of the Study
The main objective of the study was to analyse the use of ICT by Agricultural Extension workers in agricultural development in Zamfara State, Nigeria.
The specific objectives are to:
- ascertain ICT devices available for use by agricultural extension workers in Zamfara State, Nigeria;
- determine the level of perception of the use of ICT among agricultural extension workers in Zamfara State, Nigeria; and
- establish the extent to which socio-economic characteristics of agricultural extension workers influence the use of ICT in Zamfara State, Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Theoretical Framework
Simonson and Thompson (1997) state that, a theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that can incorporate laws, hypotheses and facts. Theories serve two purposes namely: provide direction for future research and provide a direction to the practice of a profession. Theories are not rigid, but continually progresses as new research findings are introduced to a given body of knowledge (Simonson and Thompson, 1997).
A research study, like this, requires a theoretical basis. Incidentally, it is to be noted that extension workers are agents of change and ICT is a tool of change. The study was premised on the theory of social change. Social change theory focuses on how individuals influences and are influenced by the society which guides investigations into how the rules of the society are re-created through interaction with one another. Rogers (1995) defines social change as the process through which alteration occurs in the structure and function of the social system. This shows that innovations and communication form the major parts of the social structure and the relationships in the society.
Ekong (2005) views social change as a modification in human attitudes and the developmental pattern as a result of education and alteration in social condition as a result of change in policies of a social organization, including consequences and manifestations of such changes.Ekong (2005) further observes that social change in a social system can be referred to as a major change in behavior patterns, norms, and values over a period of time. Influence occurs when an individual through feelings and actions is influenced or affected by other people. Influence takes many forms and can be seen in conformity with socialization, peer influence, obedience, leadership, persuasion, sales and marketing.Igbokwe (2005) explains that development is a type of social change in which new ideas are introduced into a social system in order to produce higher per-capita incomes and levels of living through more modern production methods and improved social organization.
Deutsch and Gerard (2003) describe two psychological needs that lead human beings to conform to the expectations of others. This includes our need to be right that is informational social influence and our need to be liked that is normative social influence.
- Informational influence (social proof):Is an influence to accept information from others as evidence about reality; this occurs when people are uncertain either because stimuli are intrinsically ambiguous or there is social disagreement.
- Normative influence: This is an influence to conform to positive expectations of others which leads to public compliance while informational influence leads to private acceptance.
With the theory of social change members of the society are taught the benefit of conforming to or accepting standard behaviors.This study is geared towards transforming a conventional person unto a person of extension interaction of modern system through communication in which a large number of audience could be reached at a time. The use of radio, television, telephones and other internet facilities is a shift from traditional extension delivery to a modern way which is being advocated in the theory of social change.
Another theory for this study is the modernization theory of developmentwhich was popular in the 1950s and it was prompted after the Second World War by three major factors.
First, the rise of the United State as a super power where World War II weakened other western nations such as Great Britain, France and Germany. The United State emerged from the war strengthened and became a world leader with implementation of the Marshall Plan to reconstruct war-torn Western Europe through modern technologies. Second, with the spread of a united world communist movement the former Soviet Union extended its influence on EasternEurope, China and Korea.Third, the disintegration of European colonial empires in Asia, Africa and Latin America giving birth to new nationstates as third world. These situations prompted the new nation-states to seek a model of development to promote their economy and to enhance their political independence. This gave birth to modernization.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The chapter is organized under the following sub-headings.
Research Design
3.2 Population of the study
3.3 Sample size and Sampling Procedure.
3.4 Instrument for Data Collection
3.4.1 Validation of the Instrument
3.4.2 Pilot study
3.4.3 Reliability of the Instrument
3.5 Procedure for Data Collection
3.6 Procedure for Data Analysis
Research Design
Survey design was adopted for the research study. According to Adamu (2008) survey research design is detailed and factual in collecting information from large number of people and is quick and cost effective. Osuala,(2005) described survey design as a design that gives the accurate assessment of the characteristics of the whole population of people.
Population of the Study
The population for the study was475extension personnel/agents working with ZADP, Zamfara state.
One hundred and fifty six extension workers posted to four LGAs in Zamfara
Central, namely; Bungudu, Gusau, Maru, andTsafe were sued. Zamfara West Senatorial
District had 196 agricultural extension workers, working in six LGAs, namely; Anka,
Bakura, Bukkuyum, Gummi, Maradun, and Talata-Mafara. Zamfara North had 133 agricultural extension workers obtained from four LGAs in the district, namely; Birnin Magaji, Kaura-Namoda, Shinkafi and Zurmi. The breakdown of the population of extension workers for the study in the 14 LGAs are shown in Table 1.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENATION ANDANALYSIS OF DATA
This chapter presents data generated for the study under the following subheadings:
Answers to Research Questions
Testing the Null – hypotheses
Summary of Major Findings
Discussion of Major Finding
Answers to Research Questions
Personal Characteristics of the Respondents
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION ANDRECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter deals with the following sub-headings.
Summary
Contribution to Knowledge
Conclusion
Recommendations
Suggestions for further studies.
Summary
The study was conducted to assess the perception of the use of ICT among Agricultural Extension workers in agricultural development in ZamfaraState, Nigeria. The research study had threespecific objectives, threeresearch questions andtwo Null hypotheses.Survey design was used for the study. The population of the study was three hundred and forty (340) agricultural extension workers working with ZamfaraState agricultural development project. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select the sample size. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. All the questionnaires were returned filled and subjected to statistical analyses, four points rating scale was used.The two null hypotheses were tested using regression analysis at 0.05 level of significance.The study was based on the theory of social change founded by Rogers(1995)
Findings of the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents showed that age distribution wasbetween age bracket of 21-40 years with a mean value and standard deviation of 38.0 and 10.77 respectively. Similarly, the household size indicated that majority of the extension workers fall between 1-5 members with a mean value and standard deviation of 8.0 and 8.27 respectively. The results revealed that all the extension workers are literate while the working experience of the extension workers showed that the mean distribution was 13 years with a class interval between 13-18 years, while the income levels were distributed around the mean of 602,096 Naira and standard deviation of 409781 indicating that majority of the extension workers fall within the range of 401,000-600,000 Naira in terms of income earnings/annum.
The result of the study alsoindicates that the income level of extension workers had significant influence on the use of ICT in extension delivery system as wealthier extension workers are more likely to use ICT devices to enhance their efficiency in information dissemination to farmers on improved farming practices andmodern technologies in farming. Hence the nullhypothesis was rejected.
It was also found that household size of extension workers has significant influence on the use of ICT. Extension workers with large household sizeand with more responsibilitiesand insufficient wealth find it difficultto use ICT devices. Null Hypothesis agrees with this finding and hence it was rejected.
It was found that age of the extension workers hadno significant influence on the use of ICT as the younger extension workers were more flexible and used ICT than the aged ones given that the t-ratio in the result is not significant even at 10 percent. The younger extension workers were easily influenced by the use electronic media to pass information and have less family burden to carter for. The test of null hypothesis affirmed this finding; hence, the null hypothesiswas accepted.
The study also showed that educational level of extension workers has a significant influence on the use of ICT because education improves the background knowledge of extension workerson the values of ICT,andhelp them understand the basic operation of the ICTand its usage and application in the field of agriculture. It was concluded that, the more extension workers are educated the higher their use of ICT in extension services. The test of null hypothesis confirmed this: hence, the null hypothesis was rejected.
Findings of the study also revealed thatradio; television and mobile phones were the ICT devices available for use by extension workers while the least available tools were computers, overhead projectors,mobilecinema and internet facilities. Results from study also indicated that, the extension workers used the ICT tools to disseminate valuable agricultural information to farmers on improved farm practices, improved seeds and seedlings, market information and reliable sources of farm credit. However, the level of use of these ICT tools was very low as the study findings indicated.
Contribution to Knowledge
From the analysis of data collected the study revealed that;-
- Educational level of extension workers had significant influence on the usage of ICT devices
- Radio, television and mobile phone were the most commonly used ICT devices available among extension workers in agricultural development in Zamfara state (p = 0.000).
- Extension workers in agricultural development in Zamfara state are literate who are within the age bracket of 21-30.This shows young population are involved in extension services.
- Extension workers with higher income use ICT devices to enhance their efficiency in information dissemination
Conclusion
The study assessed the perception of use of ICT among agricultural extension workers in agricultural development in Zamfarastate, Nigeria in the dissemination of agricultural information and knowledge to farmers. It was concluded that mobile phones, radio and television were
ICT devices mostly used by extension workers in agricultural development in Zamfara State. The study also concluded thatannual income, education andworking experience were valuable socio-economic characteristics that significantly influenced the level of use of ICT devices for extension communication services among extension workers in agricultural development in Zamfara State, Nigeria.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of the study the following recommendations were made:
- Concerned individuals or stakeholders such as non-governmental organizations and corporate bodies related to agriculture such as International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) should attempt to address the socio-economic factors (income levels, household size, education and working experience) influencing the use of ICT among extension workers in agricultural development in ZamfaraState.
- The governmentof Zamfarastate should intensify a periodic review of the use of ICT in the extension service delivery so as to identify which particular purpose at a given period of time.
- Efforts should be made by all tiers of Government to enhance the income status of agricultural extension workers.This can be achieved by increasing their salary and allowances.
Suggestions for Further Studies
- Evaluating the educational needs of village extension workers on sustainable agriculture in Zamfara State, Nigeria.
- Communication for development as a strategy to enhance agricultural extension performance in Zamfara State, Nigeria.
- Influence of mobile phones on the accessibility of fertilizers among cereal farmers in North – West Zone, Nigeria.
- Agricultural information needs of small holder farmer on small ruminant production inZamfaraState, Nigeria.
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