3 USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE DELIVERY IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract.

This study investigates the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in agricultural extension services in Delta State, Nigeria. A field survey was used to collect data from 94 extension officers in the State in 2018/2019 growing season using the full count method. The collected data were statistically analyzed and interpreted using percentage, frequency distribution and chi-square test. The descriptive statistics showed that the majority of the respondents 72.3% used the ICT in their extension services given to farmers and the majority of them 93.6% reported that there are many constraints facing the use of ICT in agricultural extension services in the State. Chi-square test revealed that there was no significant association between ICT and constraints facing the use of them in the delivery of agriculture extension services to the targeted audience in the State. Thus, the authors recommend that the extension officers and farmers should be trained in the use of ICT and the constraints facing the use of ICT in the agricultural extension services in the State should be solved in collaboration with all partner organizations.

Introduction

The role of public agricultural extension service has traditionally been to provide the important link between agricultural research and farming communities, especially for technology transfer in support of agricultural and rural development. However, strong criticism of public agricultural extension services has circulated in recent years (FAO, 2004). According to Qamar (2002), this criticism is due to its top-down approach, which has been supply-driven, technically weak, catering only for large farmers (progressive farmers) and providing insufficient coverage of the small-scale farmers. This implies that proven agricultural technologies, which are needed to ensure higher productivity and food security, are not able to reach the millions of small-scale farmers scattered in the rural areas. Consequently, these farmers have managed to obtain information from other sources such as other farmers, inputs dealers, produce buyers and NGOs. Given the urgent need for current agricultural knowledge and information system (AKIS) by farmers the use of conventional communication channels such as farm/home visit, personal letters, and use of contact farmers, for disseminating agricultural information is counterproductive. This calls for the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by both researchers and extension workers to transmit relevant information to farmers in a most efficient way.

Meaning of ICTs and its Application in Agricultural Extension Service Delivery

ICT is an acronym that stands for Information and Communication Technologies, which can be broadly interpreted as technologies that facilitate communication and the processing and transition of information by electronic means (CTA, 2003). This definition encompasses the full range of ICTs from Radio and Television to Telephones (fixed and mobile), computers and the internet. FAO (1993) defined ICT as technologies involved in collecting, processing, storing, retrieving, disseminating and implementing data and information using microelectronics, optics and telecommunications and computers. Agricultural Extension, which depends largely on information exchange between and among farmers and a broad range of other actors, is an area in which ICT can have significant impact. Research Scientists can relate directly with the farmers through ICTs. Frontline extension workers, who are the direct link between farmers and other actors in the agricultural knowledge and information system, are well positioned to make use of ICT to access expert knowledge or other types of information that could be beneficial to the farmers.

Arokoyo (2005) listed the potential applications of ICTs in agricultural extension to include:

• Capacity to reach a large audience, e.g. the use of radio, TV and Internet
• Can be effectively used for training and demonstrations e.g T.V., Video, VCD, and CD-ROM.
• Can be used to make the extension systems and structures more efficient through better management of information and scarce resources e.g the use of Data bases for MIS and Networking soft wares
• For the search and packaging of information on demand and for exploring of alternative production options and technologies e.g the use of search engines, the web and data bases ICT may be used for normal weather forecasts and as a warning system for disease/pests outbreaks and other disasters before they occur and also for the provision of timely and sensitive market information e.g. with the use of Radio, TV, and SMS. ICTs are important for networking among and between the key stakeholders in the Research-Extension-Farmers-Inputs-Linkage System (REFILS) e.g. with the use of Telephone, Video, SMS, and;
• ICTs can also be effectively used for community mobilization, learning and action e.g Radio, TV, public address systems and the Web. Meera et al (2004) noted that ICT can bring new information services to rural areas where farmers (end users) will have much greater control, than ever before, over current information channels. Access to such new information source is a crucial requirement for the sustainable development of the farming systems. They added that ICT can be of immense help by enabling extension workers to gather, store, retrieve and disseminate a broad range of information needed by farmers, thus transforming them from extension workers into knowledge workers (KW). The emergence of such knowledge workers will result in the realization of the much talked about bottom-up, demand-driven technology generation, assessment, refinement and transfers.

Agricultural extension is an educational service which brings information and new technologies to farming communities to enable them improve their production, incomes and standards of living. With the problem that extension agents face in facilitating direct contact with farmer clients and with researchers due to the physical distances involved and lack of transportation needed for their mobility, the application of ICT offers excellent possibilities, for strengthening research – extension systems and beyond the urban focus. Thus, for effective and efficient service delivery, the extension services and research organizations need to be appropriately supported with the use of ICTs. Van den Ban and Hawkins (1998) have even argued that in many countries the costs of maintaining full complement of extension agents are increasing progressively while the price of computers in the global market has decreased rapidly. This, therefore, makes the use of ICTs for information dissemination more economical.

Material and study

2.1Area of the study

The Delta State is an oil and agricultural producing state in Nigeria, it is situated in the region known as the south-south geo-political zone with a population of 4,112,445 (Males 2,069,309, females 2,043,136). The capital city is Asaba located at the northern end of the state, with an estimated area of 762² km. The state is characterized by vast land suitable for agriculture, and the largest projects for rainfall agriculture in Nigeria. The most important cultivated crops are sesame, maize, fishery, millet, gum Arabic, sun flower and horticultural crops such as lemon, watermelon and vegetables such as tomatoes and okra, squash and others.

2.2Population and Sample size

The total number of agricultural extension officers working for the Agricultural Extension and Technology Transfer Administration, a State is 94 agricultural extension officers. This number represents the population size of the study.

2.3. Data collection

The study was based on primary (qualitative) data. Qualitative methods are ways of finding out what people do, know, think and feel by interviewing, observing and analyzing data from documents. The data were gathered by administering a questionnaire among all agricultural extension officers of the State using the full count method in 2018/2019 growing season.

2.4. Data analysis

The collected data were statistically analyzed and interpreted using percentage and frequency distribution and .chi-square test. Chi square is given by:

χ ² = ∑ ∑ (O_tc – E_rc)²χ E/rc

r-cal c-cal

With degrees of freedom (v) given by (R-1) (C-1), where:

R: Rows of the contingency table

C: Columns of the contingency table

Orc: Observed frequency in row (r) and column (c)

Results and Discussion

3.1Social-economic profile of extension Officers

The data presented in table 1 indicate that 50% of extension officers were males, while 50% were females. Selected socioeconomic characteristics of agricultural extension officers and farmers such as gender, age, and education level play a key role in the adoption and use of ICT Anastasios (2010), Tata and McNamara (2016). The majority of extension officers (61.7%) were married while (35.1%) (2.1%) (1.1%) of them were single, divorced and widowed respectively. Research has shown that married people are more creative and have more stability.

The majority of extension officers (91.5%) reported that they are bachelor holders, compared to (3.2%) (3.2%) of them reported that they are MSc and Diploma holders respectively. (2.1%) of them reported that they are secondary school certificate holders. Educational level of extension officers contributes directly to job performance and impact of extension work with rural people. Education level of extension officers is one of the most serious problems of extension in many countries as shown in the literature; therefore the success of extension services depend mainly upon selection of qualified and motivated extension officers. Tata and McNamara (2016) found that extension officers with advanced degrees (MSc) in Southern Africa encountered no technical challenges when using ICT in comparison to less-educated colleagues. Strong et al. (2014) mentioned that education level was the important socioeconomic factor that influenced technological preferences and competency in Caribbean agricultural extension officers. Mwansa (2004) reported that agricultural extension officers attitude towards technology was the primary reason for a lack of ICT use when teaching and transferring information to farmers.

The majority of extension officers (62.8%) were between 26 -33 years old, (24.5%) of theme between 36-45 years old ,(5.3%) of theme between 15-25 years old and (7.4%) of theme have 45 and more years old. Research showed that employing young people can be cost effective and can provide the skills and workforce needed in the future and a source of future management. About 42.6% of extension officers reported that their work experiences less than 5 years. About 31.9% of them reported that their work experiences five to ten years and 25.5% reported that their work experiences 11 years and above. In Nigeria showed that significant relationships exist between sex, age, level of education, years of working experience of the extension agents with the level of use of ICT.

3.2. Use of ICT in agricultural extension service delivery

Table 2 revealed that the majority of extension officers (72.3%) reported that they used ICT in the delivery of agriculture extension services to their audience, while (27.7) of them reported that they did not use ICT in the delivery of agriculture extension services to their audience. Farmer’s demand for information has increased in recent years due to greater market instability, more complex production technologies among others. Lack of timely information can prevent good quality decision and thus lower the efficiency of production decision among farmers. Therefore ICT can be used to strengthen the capacities of rural development workers, farmers, farmer organizations and rural communities as a whole. Similarly, in Delta State Nigeria the majority of extension officers used ICT in their agricultural extension services.

Table 1. Distribution of the extension officers according to their selected socioeconomic characteristics

	Socioeconomic characteristics	Frequency	%
	Sex
1.	Male	47	50
2.	Female	47	50
	Social status	Frequency	%
1.	Married	58	61.70
2.	Single	33	35.10
3.	Divorced	02	2.10
4.	Widowed	01	1.10
	Education level	Frequency	%
	Secondary school certificate	02	2.10
	Diploma	03	3.20
	BSc.	86	91.50
	MSc.	03	3.20
	Age group	Frequency	%
	15-25	05	5.3
	26-35	59	62.8
	36-45	23	24.5
	45 and more	07	7.4
	Work experience	Frequency	%
	less than 5 years	40	42.6
	5 to 10 years	30	31.9
	11 years and more	24	25.50

Distribution of the extension officers according to their use of ICT in agricultural extension service delivery

Use of ICT	Frequency	%
Use ICT	68	72.3
Did not use ICT	26	27.7
Total	94	100.0

3.3. Kind of ICT used in the delivery of agriculture extension services

Table 3 showed that most of extension officers (34%, 53%, 35.1%, 33% and 27.7%) reported that they did not use computer, video, audio-visual aids, television and mobile respectively in the delivery of agriculture extension services to their audience. Some extension officers (34%, 10.6%, 51%, 57.5% and 63.8%) reported that they often used computer, radio, audio-visual aids, television and mobile respectively in the delivery of agriculture extension services to their audience. (22.3%, 7.4%, 9.6%, 7.4% and 6.4%) of extension officers reported that they used computer, video, audio-visual aids, television and mobile respectively some times in the delivery of agriculture extension services to their audience. (9.7%, 29%, 4.3%, 2.1% and 2.1%) of extension officers reported that they used computer, video, audio-visual aids, television and mobile respectively rarely in the delivery of agriculture extension services to their audience.

The role of ICT in improving agricultural extension communication with beneficiaries to share information, skills, experiences and other purposes of communication was found to be the backbone of successful agricultural extension services that in turn will lead to the targeted agricultural development. Found that in Delta State Nigeria the majority of extension officers used radio, TV and mobile phone in their agricultural extension services. Found that that despite the rapid growth of emerging ICTs, the more traditional ones such as radios and TVs remain popular in Africa, particularly in rural areas. Rahman and Hamid [6] reported that in the Delta State, Nigeria the majority of vegetable farmers still depend on the use of mobile phone and the traditional ICTs (radio and TV) only to obtain various agricultural extension services. Also a study carried out by Ezeh (2013) revealed that in South East Nigeria radio and television followed by phone were the most accessed and utilized ICT among the extension officers, however the extent of access and utilization of contemporary ICTs such as internet is still very low.

Distribution of extension officers according to kind of ICT used in the delivery of Agricultural Extension services

Kind of ICT Used	Computer		Radio		Audiovisual aids		Television		Mobile
	Fr.	%	Fr.	%	Fr.	%	Fr	%	Fr.	%
Not used	32	34	50	53	33	35.1	31	33	26	27.7
Often	32	34	10	10.6	48	51	54	57.5	60	63.8
Some times	21	22.3	7	7.4	9	9.6	7	7.4	6	6.4
Rarely	9	9.7	27	29	4	4.3	2	2.1	2	2.1
Total	94	100	94	100	94	100	94	100	94	100

3.4Purpose for which ICT were used

Table 4 indicated that (34%, 53%, 35.1%, 33% and 27.7% of extension officers reported that they did not use computer, radio, audio-visual aids, television and mobile respectively in the delivery of agriculture services to their audience. (26.6%, 16%, 31.9%, 37.2% and 12.8%) of extension officers reported that they used computer, radio, audio-visual aids, television and mobile respectively in the delivery of agriculture extension services to their audience as extension methods. (6.4%%, 5.3%, 2.1%, 1.1% and 6.4%) of extension officers reported that they used computer, radio, audio-visual aids, television and mobile respectively in the delivery of agriculture information. (7.5%, 6.4%, 3.2%, 00.% and 5.3%) of extension officers reported that they used computer, radio, audio-visual aids, television and mobile respectively in the delivery of agriculture extension services to their audience as extension services to their audience as sources of problem solving practices. (25.5%, 19.1%, 25.5%, 26.6% and 47.8%) of extension officers reported that they used computer, radio, audio-visual aids, television and mobile respectively in the delivery of agriculture extension services to their audience as extension services to their audience for multiple purposes.

The use of ICTs in the delivery of agriculture extension services to extension audience ca have economic impact to their users because they can save time and money especially for those who do not prefer leaving their work sites and travel into near towns and cities to make their own purchases of agricultural inputs and other farm needs. Rahman and Fadol (2015) found that in Delta State, Nigeria the majority of extension officers used the available ICT as extension methods, sources of problems solving practices and other extension services.

Table 4: Distribution of the extension officers according to purposes for which ICTs were used.

Kind of ICT Used	Computer		Radio		Audiovisual aids		Television		Mobile
	Fr.	%	Fr.	%	Fr.	%	Fr.	%	Fr.	%
Not used	32	34	50	53.2	35.1	37.2	33	35.1	26	27.7
extension methods	25	26.6	15	16	30	31.9	35	37.2	12	12.8
		6.4	5	5.3	2	2.1	1	1.1	6	6.4
sources of problem solving practices	7	7.5	6	6.4	3	3.2	00	00	5	5.3
Multiple purposes	24	25.5	18	19.1	24	25.5	25	26.6	45	47.8
Total	94	100	94	100	94	100	94	100	94	100

3.5 Constraints facing the use of ICT in the delivery of agriculture extension services

Table 5 revealed that (3.2%) of extension officers reported that they have no computer, video, audio-visual aids, television and mobile. (2.1%) of extension officers reported that they lack technical know-how which can help them to get more benefit from ICTC if they are trained in the proper use of them. (1.1%) of extension officers reported that ICT have high cost including their prices and usage. the majority of extension officers (93.6%) reported that they faced many constraints in their usage of ICT in the delivery of agriculture extension services.

Table 5: Distribution of the extension officers according to constraints facing their use of ICT in the delivery of agriculture extension services in Delta State.

Constraints facing the use of ICTs	Frequency	%
Lack of ICT	3	3.2
Lack of technical know-how	2	2.1
High cost of using ICT	1	1.1
Collective of constraints	88	93.6
Total	94	100

3.6Association between use of ICT and constraints facing the use of them:

Chi-square test was used to determine the association between the use of ICT and constraints facing use of them in agricultural extension services in Delta state. The results revealed that there was no significant association between lack of ICT and use of them in agricultural extension services in Delta State. There was no significant association between lack of technical know-how and use of them in agricultural extension services in Delta State. There was no significant association between the high cost of using ICTs and use of them in agricultural extension services in Delta State. There was no significant association between collective of constraints facing the use of ICT and use of them in agricultural extension services in Delta State.

Using depth interview with extension officers revealed that they have no smart mobile phones as a result of the high price and use of them in Nigerian and/or lack of them in all agricultural extension complexes in the State. The State lacks internet centres affiliated to Ministry of Agriculture in the villages which can provide information services with reasonable prices for farmers. The State lacks internet cafes in the villages which can provide information services with commercial prices for farmers. They have no personal computers (lap top device) because of high price of them in Nigeria and/or lack of them in all agricultural extension complexes in the State.

Inadequate ICT basic infrastructure, high price and use of ICT, lack of technical know-how and lack of electricity power problems have been cited as some of the constraints facing the use of ICT in agricultural extension services Ahmed and Musa (2008), Deichmann, Goyal and Mishra (2016).

Table 6. Chi-squire test for association between use of ICT and constraints facing the use of them in agricultural extension services in Delta State.

Constraints facing the use of ICTs	Use of ICTs		Total	Sig.
	Yes	No
Lack of ICT	2	1	3	.447
Lack of technical know-how	1	0	1
Collective of constraints	63	25	88
Total	68	26	94

Significance level 0.05 or less

Conclusion

From this study, we can conclude that a considerable number of agricultural extension officer of Delta State still depend on the use of traditional ICT such as Radio and Television. Thus the authors recommend that the extension officers and farmers should be trained in the use of ICT and the constraints facing the use of ICT in the agricultural extension services in the State should be solved in collaboration with all concerned stakeholders.

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