Journal of Information Engineering and Applications ISSN 2224-5782 print! ISSN 2225-"5"# online! $ol.%& No.

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Evaluation of the Use of Ict in Agricultural Technology Delivery to Farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
(r. Egwu Eme)a *illiams' & +r. Igwe S,l-ester Ag.o2. '. (epartment of Agricultural Economics +anagement and E/tension& E.on,i State 0ni-ersit,. 1.+.2 "5%& A.a)ali)i E.on,i State -Nigeria. Email3 egwuwe4,a5oo.com 2. (irectorate of Information and 6ommunication 7ec5nolog, I67!89esearc5 6entre& E.on,i State 0ni-ersit,.1.+.2 "5%& A.a)ali)i E.on,i state - Nigeria. Email3 gladnwe:e4,a5oo.com Abstract 75is stud, e-aluated t5e use of I67 as a source of tec5nolog, deli-er, among farmers in E.on,i State of Nigeria. +ultiple-stage random sampling tec5ni;ue was used to select '2" respondents. 1rimar, data were collected using a well structured ;uestionnaire and inter-iew sc5edule. 2ot5 descripti-e and inferential statistics were emplo,ed in data anal,sis. 9esults o.tained s5owed t5at 55 percent of t5e respondents were males w5ose age .rac)ets fall wit5in %" < %= ,ears. A.out %" percent 5ad secondar, education. >ut of 45 percent of t5e respondents w5o were farmers& 4'.7 percent were mainl, crop farmers. 54.'7 percent of t5e respondents 5ad access to mo.ile p5ones w5ereas 57.5" percent 5ad no access to computer. I67s was used ., %'.#7 percent of t5e respondents to get information on new -arieties& I67 was effecti-e in information deli-er, in determining t5e ;uantit, of farm inputs. A 5ig5 co-efficient of multiple determination 92! of 7#.# percent was o.tained. 75is means t5at 7#.# percent of t5e total -aria.les in t5e dependent -aria.les were caused ., t5e c5anges in independent -aria.les included in t5e regression model. Infrastructural& tec5nical& institutional and financial constraints were identified ., factor anal,sis. In conclusion& o-ercoming t5e pro.lems of information dissemination and communication& language .arriers and limited economic resources would increase t5e use of I67s in t5e stud, area. 9ecommendations suc5 as impro-ement of infrastructural facilities& periodic training of farmers& and e/tension agents& su.sidi:ing I67s facilities as well as organi:ing pu.lic enlig5tenment programmes s5ould .e carried out to impro-e t5e awareness and t5e use of I67s in E.on,i State. Key or!s" I67& Agriculture& 7ec5nolog,& (eli-er,& ?armers& E.on,i State. Intro!uction an! #roblem Statement 75ere is scarcel, a field of 5uman acti-it, toda, t5at 5as not .een touc5ed ., t5e dramatic c5anges in information and communication tec5nolog, I67! for t5e past '"-'5 ,ears. Agricultural and agriculture related natural resources management are no e/ception. In t5is era of glo.ali:ation& Information and 6ommunication 7ec5nolog, I67! 5as .ecome a powerful tool for impro-ing t5e deli-er, ser-ice and en5ancing local de-elopment opportunities @orstein& 2""%!. As a .road tool for pro-iding local farming communities wit5 latest agricultural tec5nolog,& information and communication tec5nolog, 5eralds t5e formation of )nowledge for societies in t5e rural areas of t5e de-eloping world S5ar) et al& 2""4!. 9ural 6ommunities re;uire information on suppl, of inputs& new farming tec5nologies& earl, warning of natural disasters& credit& mar)et price and t5eir competition. Suc5 information )nowledge& tec5nolog, and ser-ice contri.ute to e/panding and energi:ing agriculture +un,a& 2"""!. A.sence of functional agricultural tec5nolog, deli-er, s,stem is a maAor constraint to agricultural de-elopment in Nigeria. Aina '=8=! identified non-pro-ision of necessar, agricultural information as a )e, factor limiting agricultural de-elopment in Nigeria. According to Benn, 2""'!& local communities need to .e in-ol-ed in t5e designed uni-ersal access programmes ., participating in decision a.out particular information and communication access outlets. Indeed& most studies found out t5at t5e most effecti-e wa, of ensuring t5e economic success of I67 in rural areas is to encourage focal participation and create social institution in support of t5e new tec5nologies. Cac) of encouragement of t5e local communities and social institutions ma)e t5e farmers to reAect t5e new tec5nologies .ecause most of t5e farmers are illiterate and need to .e guided and encouraged properl, to t5e effecti-eness of t5e I67 in tec5nolog, deli-er, to .e successful +un,a& 2"""!. A great understanding of e/isting information s,stem to ascertain 5ow information is gat5ered& stored& s5ared& concreti:ed and e-aluated amongst poor communities will aid t5e appropriate application of I67s. It s5ould .e pointed out t5at rural farmers are read, for information and communication .ut t5e pre-alent pro.lem identified ., ?arinde '===! was non a-aila.ilit, and lac) of access to some information source. 75e lac) of information pro.a.l, led to t5e conclusion drawn ., A)inwande '==8! from e-idence of 5is researc5& t5at pro.lem of information dissemination and communication contact associated wit5 limitation&

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dissemination e/pectations are o.stacles of geograp5,& fragmented audience& language .arriers& and limited economic resources are sop5isticated strategies of face to face contact. (isseminating important agricultural information to farmers 5as .een an integral part of agricultural de-elopment strategies for ,ears. In an I67 ena.led approac5& information dissemination and communication tec5ni;ues from institutionali:ed )nowledge sources will continue to .e important& .ut t5e real transformation t5at I67 ma)e possi.le is to allow feed.ac) and return flow of information from users t5at tells information suppliers e/tension agents! w5et5er t5e information t5e, supplied was useful or rele-ant and offer guidelines to impro-e it ?aride& '===!. Dence& it is critical to e-aluate t5e effecti-eness of t5e use of I67 in agricultural tec5nolog, deli-er, and t5e constraints encountered in t5e deli-er, and adoption. 2ased on w5at 5a-e .een mentioned ., Noor S5arifer5 2""#!& it seems t5at I67 5as a .ig role to offer in increasing agricultural producti-it,. 2ut do agro .ased entrepreneurs in Nigeria use I67E 7o w5at e/tent do t5e, use itE ?re;uent& seldom or t5e, ne-er use itE If t5e, are seldom and ne-er use it& w5at are t5e factors t5at contri.uted to t5ese pro.lemsE According to pre-ious studies done ., +. (. Salle5 et al 2""=!& t5e le-el of I67 usage suc5 as internet among de-eloping countries was still at a low le-el and a num.er of factors are related to t5is. 9ec5andson& ( 2""#! II6( 2""#! and Da,rol et al 2""=! indicated t5at agricultural communities prefer to use traditional wa,s instead of using I67& t5e, prefer as)ing t5eir neig5.ours and rel,ing on traditional mass media suc5 as tele-ision& radio and newspapers. 7elg et al& 2""5! identified language as one of t5e main pro.lems faced ., t5e rural people in using I67. >ne possi.ilit, is t5at maAorit, of t5e rural farmers nowada,s are elderl, wit5 low education and could read and write& since most I67 application run in Englis5 E:5ar et al& 2""8!. 1ierson 2""#! stated t5at low self esteem was also t5e main pro.lem t5at must .e o-ercome if agricultural communit, wants to .e culti-ated wit5 I67 inter-entions. It appears t5at specific attempt is ,et to .e made to empiricall, e-aluate t5e use of I67 in agricultural tec5nolog, deli-er, to farmers in E.on,i State wit5 a -iew to ascertaining constraints t5at farmers face in using I67. It is t5erefore .elie-ed t5at an e-aluation of t5e use of I67 in agricultural tec5nolog, deli-er, to farmers in E.on,i State will re-eal some of t5e constraints to effecti-e use of I67 as a source of information dissemination to agricultural de-elopment. 75e stud, t5erefore see)ed to proffer solution to t5e following ;uestions3 w5at is t5e role of I67 in dissemination of -ital farm information among farmersE *5at is t5e -ia.ilit, and access note of I67 to farmers in t5e stud, areaE Dow effecti-e is t5e use of I67 as information source of farmers in t5e areaE *5at are t5e factors t5at limit farmers to t5e use of I67 as a source of farm information in t5e stud, areaE The $b%ectives of the Stu!y inclu!e to3 i. descri.e t5e socio-economic c5aracteristics of t5e farmers ii. determine t5e le-el of access to I67 as source of information on agricultural tec5nolog, ., t5e farmers F iii. anal,se t5e effecti-eness of I67 in t5e deli-er, of agricultural tec5nolog, to t5e farmers F and i-. determine t5e relations5ip .etween t5e socio-economic c5aracteristics of t5e farmer and t5eir access to I67 as a source of information on agricultural tec5nolog,. & $" 75ere is no significant relations5ip .etween t5e socio-economic c5aracteristics of t5e farmers and t5eir access to I67 as source information on agricultural tec5nolog,. 75e use of I67 in tec5nolog, deli-er, to farmers wit5out proper e-aluation of its effecti-eness does not reall, sol-e t5e pro.lems of t5e farmers and t5e suppliers& 5ence t5e need for proper monitoring and in-estigation. 75e researc5 pro-ided solution to t5e users& and .enefited students wor)ing on related areas. It also .enefited agricultural polic, ma)ers in planning and implementing agricultural Information and 6ommunication 7ec5nolog, I67! programmes and acti-ities. 'aterials an! 'etho!s 3 75e stud, area is E.on,i State& Nigeria. E.on,i State is made up of '% local go-ernment areas and t5ree agricultural :ones3 Nort5& 6entral and Sout5. 75e Nort5 Agricultural Gone 5as four 4! Cocal @o-ernment Areas < A.a)ali)i& E.on,i& I::i and >5au)wu. 75e 6entral Agricultural Gone& 5as four 4! Cocal @o-ernment Areas < E::a Nort5& E::a Sout5& I)wo and Is5ielu and Sout5 Agricultural Gone& 5as fi-e 5! Cocal @o-ernment Areas < Afi)po Nort5& Afi)po Sout5& I-o& >5ao:ara and >nic5a. 75e people are mostl, farmers& artisans and ci-il ser-ants. 75e, grow -ariet, of staple crops and -egeta.les suc5 as ,am& cassa-a& rice& mai:e& potatoes& groundnut& coco,am& melon& tomatoes and >)ro. E2A(E1 2""2& E2+>I& 2""%!.

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+ulti-stage random sampling tec5ni;ue was used in selecting t5e respondents in t5e stud, area. 75irt, fi-e %5! from t5e Nort5& t5irt, fi-e %5! from t5e central and fift, 5"! from t5e sout5& gi-en a sample si:e of '2" respondents. 1rimar, data were collected from t5e respondents w5ile secondar, data were collected from E.on,i State Agricultural (e-elopment 1roAect and E.on,i State +inistr, of Information. >.Aecti-es i! and ii! were anal,:ed using descripti-e statistics suc5 as percentage& fre;uenc, ta.le and mean F o.Aecti-e iii! was anal,:ed wit5 li)ert scale tec5ni;ue w5ile o.Aecti-e i-! was anal,:ed ., multiple regression. +odel specification for multiple regression is as follows 3 CA H ? ES& A@& SE& A*& ?S& DS& ?E& @+& CA H aIa' ESIa2 A@Ia% SEIa4 AgIa5 ?SIa# DSIa7 ?EIa8 +gIet CA H Ce-el of Access of I67 num.er of I67 facilities accessed! ES H Education Status A@ H Age ,ears! SE H Se/ AI H Annual farm income ?S H ?arm Si:e Da! DS H Douse 5old si:e ?E H ?arming e/perience @+ H @roup mem.ers5ip. Ci)ert scale model. Ci)ert formula H *5ere

J ? n Nr

fn Nr
H summation H fre;uenc, of eac5 response pattern H Ci)ert nominal -alue H Num.er of respondents to eac5 response categor,

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(esult an! Discussion 75e result of t5e stud, were presented in t5e su.se;uent ta.les as .elow. 7a.le'3 1ercentage (istri.ution of Socio-economic 65aracteristics of 9espondents. )ariable Fre*uency #ercentage +en!er +ale ## 55 ?emale 54 45 Age" Cess t5an 2= 8 #.7 %" < %= 44 %#.7 4" < 4= %= %2.5 5" and a.o-e 2= 24.% E!ucation attainment" No formal education %4 28.% Incomplete 1rimar, Sc5ool 2" '#.7 6omplete primar, sc5ool %" 25 >t5ers %# %" 'arital status" Single 5= 2'.7 +arried 2# 4=.2 (i-orced 8 #.7 Separated '' =.2 *idowed '# '%.% &ouse hol! si,e" '-% 2" '7.7 4-# 4" %%.% 7-= 28 2%.% '" < '2 22 '8.% K '2 '" 8.% $ccu-ation status" 45 54 ?arming '#.7 2" 7rading 2".8 25 6i-il ser-ice '7.5 2' >t5ers Income -er month" '8.% 22 '"&""" < 2"&""" 5" 4'.7 2'&""" < 4"&""" 4'&""" < #"&""" %" 25 '8 '5 K #"&""" Ty-es of framing -ractice" '#.7 2" Ci-estoc) production 4'.7 6rop production 5" %2.5 %= +ar)eting farm product 4.2 Agricultural processing 5 %.% 4 ?ir. farming '.7 2 Snail farming 'embers of co.o-erative society" %%.% Les 4" ##.7 No 5" Source" ?ield sur-e,& 2"'2. +en!er3 75e finding on ta.le ' s5owed t5at maAorit, 55M! of respondents w5o use I67 were male w5ile 45 percent were female. Age" 75e respondent w5ose age were %" < %= was %#.7 percent& w5ile t5ose less t5an 2= ,ears were #.7 percent. %2.5 percent and 24.2 percent of respondents fall .etween 4" < 4= and a.o-e. 75is mean t5at maAorit, of t5e respondents were still acti-e and participated in t5e use of I67 in agriculture. It agreed wit5 t5e findings of +un,a 2""'! t5at ,oung people participate more in I67 in agricultural tec5nolog,.

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E!ucation attainment3 75e a.o-e ta.le s5owed t5at maAorit, 7'.7M! were literate w5ile 28.%! were illiterate. 75is implies t5at maAorit, of t5e respondents participate in new ideas and li)el, to adopt new inno-ation. 75is is in line wit5 Asogwa 2""#! w5ic5 stated t5at educational status en5ances efficienc, of farmers. 'arital Status3 75e result indicated t5at 4=.2 percent of t5e respondent were married& 2'.7 single w5ile #.7 percent and =.2 percent were di-orced and separated respecti-el,. &ousehol! si,e3 In ta.le ' a.o-e& maAorit, %%.% percent! of t5e respondents 5ad a 5ouse5old si:e of 4-# w5ile 8.% percent of t5e respondents 5ad a 5ouse5old si:e of '2 and a.o-e. Dowe-er& wit5 a mean 5ouse5old si:e of 5.75& respondents was considered as 5a-ing larger 5ouse5old si:e t5an ot5ers. 75is was of great importance as a source of c5eap and afforda.le farm la.our in farming. $ccu-ation status3 >ccupational status s5owed t5at maAorit, 45M! of t5e respondents were farmers w5ile minorities '#.7M! were traders. Income3 7a.le ' also s5owed t5at maAorit, of t5e respondents 4'.7M! earned .etween 2'&""" < 4"&""" per mont5 w5ile '5 percent earned N#"& """ and a.o-e. A-erage income per mont5 .eing N%#& #25& it means t5at maAorit, of t5e respondents were low income earners. Ty-e of farm -ractice3 It was indicated in t5e ta.le t5at 4'.7 percent of t5e respondents practiced crop farming w5ile '.7 percent practiced snail farming. +em.er of 6o-operati-e societ,3 75irt, t5ree percent of t5e respondents were mem.ers of co-operati-e societ, w5ile ##.7 did not .elong to t5e co-operati-e societ,. Table /" #ercentage Distribution of (es-on!ents 0ase! on I1T Facilities A areness in the stu!y Area E2isting I1Ts Fre*uency #ercentage 9adio 2= 24.'7 6omputer 27 22.5" 7elep5one mo.ile! 45 %7.5" 7ele-ision '" 8.%% Internet facilities = 7.5" 7otal '2" '"" Source3 ?ield sur-e,& 2"'2 75e use of mo.ile p5one in ta.le 2 re-eal t5at maAorit, %7.5"M! of t5e respondents were aware of t5e e/istence of mo.ile p5one. 75us& mo.ile p5one was more commonl, used in o.taining and s5aring agricultural information among t5e respondents in t5e stud, area. Table 3" #ercentage Distribution of (es-on!ents 0ase! on their Access to I1T in the Stu!y Area. I1TS A11ESS No 4 A11ESS Fre*uency #ercentage Fre*uency #ercentage 9adio 4" %%.%% %" 25."" 7elep5one mo.ile! #5 54.'7 25 2".8% 7ele-ision %8 %'.#7 57 47.5" 6omputer 24 2"."" #= 57.5" Internet facilities 2% '=.'7 %= %2.5" Total 567 //7 Source3 ?ield sur-e,& 2"'2. 8 Indicates multiple response. 7a.le % s5ows t5at %%.%% percent of t5e respondents 5ad access to radio w5ile 25 percent could not 5a-e access to radio. +o.ile telep5one was accessed ., 54.'7 percent .ut onl, 2".8% percent of t5e respondents could not 5a-e access to mo.ile telep5one. Also %'.#7 percent 5ad tele-ision w5ile 47.5" percent 5ad to computer w5ile onl, 2" percent made use of computer. Ci)ewise '=.'7 percent 5ad access to internet facilities w5ile %2.5" percent 5ad no access to it. ?rom t5e a.o-e result& greater num.er of respondents 57.5"M! 5ad no access to computer.

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Table 9" #ercentage Distribution of the Use of I1T by Farmers in the Stu!y Area. Use of I1Ts Fre*uency #ercentage @et information on new -arieties %8 %'.#7 @et information on mar)et situation 2= 24.'7 E/c5ange of )nowledge and ideas wit5 fellow farmers %" 25."" 1ro-ision of agricultural information to e/tension wor)ers 2" '#.#7 Ac;uire information from researc5 institution '5 '2.5" Ac;uisition of s)ill t5roug5 training '8.%% 22 @et information on farm inputs a-aila.ilit, cost and w5ere to o.tain t5em. '5 '2.5" 6ommunication .etween e/tension agents and farmers 2% '=.'7 Searc5ing for recent information or inno-ation on agriculture 27 22.5" Searc5ing for places w5ere m, farm products are 5ig5l, needed %' 25.8% Cocation of mar)eters for farm products 2" '#.#7 7otal N27" Source " ?ield sur-e,& 2"'2. 8 Indicates multiple response. 7a.le 4 s5owed t5at most respondents %'.#7M! used I67s to get information on new -arieties w5ile '2.5" percent get information on farm inputs a-aila.ilit,& cost and w5ere to o.tain t5em. Table :" ;i<ert Scale Analysis on the Effectiveness of I1Ts in the Farm $-eration Delivery of Agricultural Technology in the stu!y area. E2tent of I1Ts Utili,ation 'ean Score Decision 15,sical farm measurement 2.% 9eAected Ouantities of c5emical to use 2.7 Accepted Ouantities of seeds 8 set 8 cuttings to use 2.8 Accepted Dow to estimate farm output 2.5 Accepted *5en .est to start land preparation 2.# Accepted 2est planting tec5ni;ues 2.7 Accepted 2est time to 5ar-est farm produce 2.= Accepted 2est processing met5od 2.= Accepted Dow to store produce 2.2 9eAected 2est c5emical for storing produce 2.# Accepted 9ecord )eeping 2.4 9eAected Impro-ed seed -ariet, 2.= Accepted 0se of fertili:er %." Accepted 0se of agro c5emicals 2.2 9eAected Information on credit needs 2.7 Accepted @rowing .reeds 2.' 9eAected +et5ods of disease pre-ention and control 2.5 Accepted 1est control 2.= Accepted +ar)et scanning 2.8 Accepted *eat5er forecasting information 2.2 9eAected Source" ?ield sur-e,& 2"'2. 7a.le 5 s5ow t5at farmers in t5e stud, area utili:ed I67s facilities in -arious agricultural acti-ities. 75e agricultural acti-ities w5ere I67s were mostl, used were 3 ;uantities of c5emical to use 2.7!& ;uantities of seeds 8sets8cuttings to sue 2.8!& 5ow to estimate farm output 2.5!& w5en .est to start land preparation 2.#!& .est planting tec5ni;ues 2.7!& .est time to 5ar-est farm produce 2.=!& .est processing met5od 2.=!& .est c5emical for storing produce 2.#!& impro-ed seed -ariet, =2.=!& use of fertili:er 2."!& information on credit needs 2.7! met5od of diseases control 2.5!& 1est control 2.=! and mar)et scanning 2.8!. 75ese were accepted .ecause t5e, scored a.o-e t5e decision point. 75e factors reAected were p5,sical farm measurement 2.%!& 5ow to store produce 2.2!& record )eeping 2.4!& use of agro c5emicals 2.2!& growing .reeds 2.'! and weat5er forecasting information 2.2! .ecause t5e, score .elow decision point of 2.5!.

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Table =" Summary of 'ulti-le (egression Analysis )ariable co!e )ariable names (egression coefficient 2o 6onstant %.278 P' Education status ".""# P2 Age -"."'% Se/ P% -".""5 P4 Annual farm income ".472 ?arm si:e P5 ".""7 Douse5old si:e P# "."'4 ?arming e/perience "."#" P7 P8 @roup mem.ers5ip ".4==

Stan!ar! error ".""' "."""8 -"."'' ".""7 "."5% ".""" ".""= "."'8 "."87

t.value ".#85 ".#8" ".2"4 ".#25 8.=#' -'.5%" '.552 -".5'" 5.758

;evel of sign N NS N NN N N N N N

92 H ".7## H 7#.#M F AdA 92 H ".74= H 74.=M Standard error of t5e estimates SEE! H ".%8%5' F (ur.in - *atson 6onstant H 2.2"# ? - Statistics H 45.44' Source3 6omputed from field data& 2"'2. N Indicates significant at 'M NN Indicate significant at 5M NS Indicates not statisticall, significant. 75e result of t5e multiple regression in ta.le # s5ow a 5ig5 coefficient of multiple determination 92! of 7#.#M. 75is means t5at a.out 7#.# percent -ariation in t5e dependent -aria.le was caused ., c5anges in independent -aria.les included in t5e regression model. 75e o-erall influence of t5e independent -aria.les on t5e dependent -aria.le was s5own ., t5e -alue of ?-statistics 45.44'! w5ic5 was 5ig5l, significant at 'M le-el of significance. A.sence of autocorrelation was s5own ., t5e low -alue of (ur.in-*atson constant 2.2"#!F w5ic5 means t5at t5e regression model was well specified since important -aria.les were included. 75e low -alue of standard errors of t5e estimates ".%85'! as well as 5ig5 -alue of significance of t5e independent -aria.les are indications t5at t5e regression model as well as t5e result o.tained are statisticall, relia.le and dependa.le. E!ucational Status of the (es-on!ents. 75e le-el of education PI! was positi-el, signed .ut not statisticall, significant. 75is means t5at t5e 5ig5er t5e le-el of education of respondents& t5e 5ig5er t5eir le-el of access to I67s facilities as source of information on agricultural tec5nolog, deli-er, in t5e stud, area. 75is is true and conforms to t5e a priori e/pectation .ecause educated farmers can understand tec5nical )nowledge on I67s utili:ation faster t5an uneducated ones. Age of res-on!ents 3 75e age of respondents P2! was negati-el, and significantl, related to t5e deponent -aria.le. Its negati-e coefficient indicates negati-e relations5ip. 75is means t5at t5e 5ig5er t5e age of t5e farmers t5e lower t5eir access to and use of I67s as a sources of agricultural information in t5e stud, area. 75is is true and conforms to t5e aprior, e/pectations .ecause older farmers are reluctant and uninterested in utili:ation of I67s due to tec5nical difficult, t5e, usuall, encounter in its operations. Se2 of the res-on!ent3 Se/ of t5e respondents P%! .ore a negati-e co-efficient and was significantl, significant at 5M le-el of significance. 75is negati-e sign o.tained in regression anal,sis means t5at t5ere is gender discrimination in t5e le-el of access and use of I67 as a source of agricultural tec5nolog, deli-er, in t5e stud, area. It could .e t5at male farmers 5ad more access to I67 t5an t5eir female counterparts. Annual income of the res-on!ents3 75e result o.tained indicated t5at t5e annual farm income of t5e respondent P4! was positi-el, signed and 5ig5l, significant at 'M le-el of significance. 75is s5ows positi-e relations5ip& meaning t5at t5e 5ig5er t5e respondents annual income& t5e more t5e, utili:e I67s as a source of agricultural tec5nolog, deli-er, in t5e stud, area. 75is is true and did not de-iate form t5e a priori e/pectation .ecause farmers w5ose annual income is 5ig5 were a.le to afford I67s and utili:ed t5em. Farm si,e of the res-on!entsF 75e respondentsQ farm si:e P5! was positi-el, and significantl, related to t5e dependent -aria.le at 'M le-el of significance. 75is s5ows t5at t5e 5ig5er t5e farm si:e of t5e farmers& t5e more t5e, utili:e I67s as a source of agricultural tec5nolog, deli-er, in t5e stud, area. 75is is true and 5ad met t5e a priori e/pectations .ecause farmers wit5 5ig5er farm si:e usuall, di-ersif, into different t,pes of crops and li-estoc) production and could definitel, see) for information from different sources using I67s facilities. &ousehol! Si,e >?=@3 75e result s5owed t5at t5e respondents 5ouse5old P#! 5ad a positi-e coefficient and was significantl,

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Journal of Information Engineering and Applications ISSN 2224-5782 print! ISSN 2225-"5"# online! $ol.%& No.'"& 2"'%

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significant at 'M le-el of significance. 75is means t5at positi-e relations5ip e/ists .etween t5e farmerQs 5ouse5old si:e and t5eir le-el of utili:ation of I67s as a source of agricultural information in t5e stud, area. 75is is .ecause farmers w5ose 5ouse5old si:e is 5ig5 5a-e man, dependent. 75e, need agricultural information on .etter tec5nologies& mar)eting& impro-ed -arieties etc. so as to increase t5eir le-el of production and as well ta)e ade;uate care of t5eir famil, mem.ers. 75us t5e, seam to see) for information more readil,. Farming e2-erience of the res-on!ent >?A@3 75e farming e/perience P7! .ore a positi-e co-efficient and was significantl, significant at 'M le-el of significance. 75is indicate positi-el, relations5ip and means t5at farmers w5ose farming e/perience is 5ig5er soug5t for and utili:ed I67s as a source of agricultural information more t5an t5ose wit5 lower farming e/perience& t5is is .ecause t5ose w5o are more e/perienced understood rele-ance of I67s more t5an t5ose wit5 lower farming e/perience. +rou- 'embershi- of the (es-on!ents >?B@3 75e result o.tained in ta.le si/ indicates t5at group mem.ers5ip P8! .ore a positi-e co-efficient& and was statisticall, significant at 'M le-el of significance. 75is means t5at farmers w5o .elong to man, groups 5ad .etter access and utili:ed I67s as a source of agricultural tec5nolog, deli-er, in t5e stud, area. 75e result o.tained was statisticall, significant at 'M le-el of significance as s5own3 L H %.278 I ".""#P' - "."'%P2 < "."5P% I ".472P4 ".""'! ".""8! "."''! ".""7! "."5%! I "."7P5 I "."'4P# I ".""#"P7 I ".4== P8 "."""! ".""=! "."'8! "."87! &y-othesis Testing 75e null 5,pot5esis w5ic5 states t5at t5e socio-economic c5aracteristics of t5e respondents do not significantl, influence t5eir le-el of access to I67s as a source of information on agricultural tec5nolog, was tested using ?test as s5own. ? H cal H 45.44' $' H N < B H 8<'H7 $2 H N < B H '2" < 8 H ''2 ? < critical H 2.=# at 5M le-el of significance. Decision (ule C If ?-6al K ?-ta.& reAect null 5,pot5esis ot5erwise accept. Since ?-cal 45.44'! K f-ta. 2.=#!& t5e null 5,pot5esis was reAect w5ile t5e alternati-e was accepted. 75is implies t5at t5e socio-economic c5aracteristics of t5e respondents do significantl, influence t5eir le-el of access to I67s in t5e stud, area. 1onclusion 75is stud, re-ealed t5at t5e use of I67s in agricultural tec5nolog, deli-er, in E.on,i State can lead to t5e muc5 needed and emp5asi:ed agricultural transformation in Nigeria. ?armers in t5e stud, area were aware of I67s and used t5em in -arious agricultural acti-ities. Dowe-er& t5e use of I67s was limited ., tec5nical& infrastructural& financial and institutional constraints. >-ercoming t5ese c5allenges would ensure increased use of I67s for agricultural acti-ities. 75erefore& efforts s5ould .e made to en5ance t5e use of I67s among farmers in E.on,i State. @o-ernment could pro-ide infrastructural facilities suc5 as constant electricit,& good roads pipe .orn water& 5ealt5 facilities and modern farm facilities to ena.le farmers utili:e I67s& ensure periodic training for .ot5 farmers and e/tension agents on t5e operation of I67s& su.sidi:e I67s facilities and ma)e a-aila.le all networ)s in t5e stud, area in colla.oration wit5 t5e networ) pro-iders& and constant pu.lic enlig5tenment programmes to intimate male and female farmers of t5e need to emplo, I67s in t5eir agricultural acti-ities. (eferences '. Ania& C.>. '=8=. Information to African ?armers for 9ural (e-elopment 4! 2"' < 2"5. 2. A)inwaude& A. '=88. +ass +edia Strategies for 9ural (e-elopment and Cocal Administration. 1roceedings of Seminar on 9ural (e-elopment and Cocal Administration& >gun State 0n-iersit,& A,o& Iwo,e 1p '2= < '4#. %. E2+>I. 2""%. 1u.lication of t5e +inistr, of Information& A.a)ali)i& E.on,i State. 4. E:5ar& 7. 9a5im& +. S. Garinal& A. +. Amin& +. A. +o5amed 9e:al& and Gamre L. 2""8. RAre +ala, Small Scale Agro-Entrepreneurs 9ead, to face future c5allenges. An Anal,sis of Attitudes towards wor) -aluesS. Pertaulka Journal of Social Science and Humanities 16:pp 31 34. 5. ?arinde& A. J. '===. Effecti-eness of E/tension 7eac5ing +et5ods used in (isseminating Impro-ed Agricultural 7ec5nologies in Cagos State (epartment of 15ilosop5, >.afemi Awolowo 0ni-ersit, Ile-Ife& Nigeria. +. 15ill 75esis. #. @urstein +. 2""%. Effecti-e 0se 3 A 6ommonl, Informatics Strateg, 2e,ond t5e (igital (i-ide. 1a)istan Academ, for 9ural (e-elopment& 1es5aawa 1p 25=T2#=.

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Journal of Information Engineering and Applications ISSN 2224-5782 print! ISSN 2225-"5"# online! $ol.%& No.'"& 2"'%

www.iiste.org

Da,rol A:ril& +. (. Salla5 and Inon& 2. 2""=. Le el of !ass !edia "sa#e $%ele ision& 'adio and Ne(spaper) *mon# !ala+sian *#ro,-ased .ntrepreneur/ Journal of *#riculture and 0iolo#+ 1& PP 412 413. 8. International Institute for 6ommunication and (e-elopment& 2""#. I67 for Agricultural Ci-estoc)s 3 Impact and Cessons Cearnt from II6( Supported Acti-ities& International Institute for 6ommunication and (e-elopment& 75e Dague. =. +un,a& 0. 2""". Information and 6ommunication 7ec5nologies for 9ural (e-elopment and ?ood Securit,3 Cessons from ?ield E/perience in (e-eloped 6ountries. Sustaina.le (e-elopment ?A>. 9ose& 11 ' < '2. '". 1ierson& J. 2""#. Studies on +ass +edia Information and 7elecommunication S+I7!. 0ni-ersit, of $reAi& 2russels& 2elgium. ''. 9ic5andson& (. 2""#. 75e Internet& 9ural and Agricultural (e-elopment3 An Integrated Approac5. ?A>& 9ome. Dtti88www.fao.org. documents8s5ow.cdr.aspEurl-fileH' docrep8w#84"E8w#84"c o4.5tm. '2. 7elg A. 2asford and 7. Irant 2""5. 6ommunication 1reference of 1oliticall, Acti-e Agriculture Ceaders. Journal of *#ricultural 4ommunication 13$5).

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