A Critical Assessment Of The Ict Awareness & Utilization Among Mechanized Farmers In Niger State: A Perspective Of Gsm And The Internet.

A Critical Assessment Of The Ict Awareness & Utilization Among Mechanized Farmers In Niger State: A Perspective Of Gsm And The Internet.

Chapiter 1

Introduction

1.1 The study’s context

Without the creative and innovative utilization of obtained information, no nation can develop. The logical application of recorded knowledge is the basis for all contemporary breakthroughs and discoveries, which are reflected in the advancement of science and technology, economy, social development, and cultural development. According to Armstrong (2012), the demand for the creation of more rapid and effective infrastructure for gathering, storing, and transmitting information has increased due to its expanding value and utilization as a commodity. The proliferation of different types of information services and the use of new technology by information professionals have been further outcomes of achieving these goals, but the technologies that have the biggest impact on information are those that deal with information storage, processing, and dissemination, which in this context fits what the term information and communication technology (ICT) implies.

Information and communication technology (ICT) must be recognized in Nigeria as a valuable tool for the agriculture industry. According to Jhunjhunwala (2013), many smallholder farms now have restricted access to production inputs, particularly automation; as a result, they often achieve poor levels of productivity and regularly contribute to the rise of negative environmental impacts on already depleting natural resources. Additionally, they have fewer alternatives for getting to markets and taking use of the many value-adding activities that more advanced food systems might offer. As people, especially the young and fit, travel to metropolitan regions in search of a life defined by less drudgery than that provided by agriculture, it is expected that the rural population would decrease. Despite being frequently disregarded, agricultural mechanization can offer rural women options that are well suited to cultural, social, and traditional labor standards as well as the overall expansion of local economies.

However, with the quick development of information and communication technologies (ICTs), data and information can now be efficiently generated, stored, analyzed, disseminated, and used to assist farmers and farming communities in improving agricultural productivity and sustainability, which the majority of farmers do not have access to due to potential obstacles. Thus, it becomes crucial to provide individuals with technology like mobile smarts.

1.2 A description of the issue

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) like mobile communication, Internet communication, television and radio, and others are frequently used for agricultural information transmission in developed countries. According to Hallam (2011), global mobile communication has recently experienced exponential growth. It provides a cost-effective platform for communication, particularly in the agricultural sector, however farmers in emerging economies seem to be lagging behind. There are several arguments in favor of using ICT to spread agricultural information and subsequently enable farmers to use it, notably in Nigeria. Nigerians now have access to phones thanks to the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications, a crucial ICT. According to Salau and Saingbe (2018), it is now appropriate for academics and extension personnel to use ICT to more effectively transmit critical knowledge to mechanized farmers. However, this ICT revolution is typically accompanied by access, connectivity, and content limitations, which forces development professionals to deal with the combined issues of farmer literacy and the high costs of ICT resources, particularly in developing countries. For the ICT revolution to effectively reach and serve farmers, it is necessary to better understand how they understand and apply these technologies, which are limited by a shortage of extension workers for expanded service delivery and their own self-efficacy (education). In order to better understand ICT awareness and usage among mechanized farmers in Niger State, the following research was done: Considering GSM and the internet:

1.3 The purpose of the study

Examining ICT awareness and use among mechanized farmers in Niger State from a GSM and internet perspective is the primary goal of this study. The research specifically aims to:

1. Assess the extent to which farmers are aware of the internet and GSM as a means of sharing information.

2. Examine how much ICT is used by farmers in their farming methods.

3. Determine how significant technology-based farming practices are for farmers in rural areas.

4. Identify the obstacles that prevent mechanized farmers from using GSM and the Internet.

1.4 Questions for Research

1. To what extent are farmers aware of the internet and GSM as a case study for information dissemination?

2. To what extent do farmers use ICT tools in their farming operations?

3. What are the advantages for farmers in rural areas to use technology-based farming practices.

4. What difficulties prevent automated farmers from using GSM and the Internet.

1.5 Importance of the research

This study aims to offer a diagnostic framework for resolving issues related to farmer usage levels and the significance of GSM and the Internet in mechanized agriculture. Their attitude about the ICT equipment they have access to could potentially be changed. Additionally, it is important to educate farmers about the value of GSM as a quicker method of disseminating information using a variety of platforms equipped with GSM rather than just for voice calls, which is the main reason an average farmer buys a GSM. Farmers must also be aware that the internet is a crucial medium for disseminating information about difficulties encountered during mechanized farming and locating a long-term solution to it.The study would also serve as a reference for students or other academics who might want to conduct their own research on a related topic. It would add empirically to the corpus of existing literature.

1.6 Study’s range of inquiry

This study’s focus is on ICT usage and knowledge among mechanized farmers in Niger State from the standpoint of GSM and the internet. The study will look at how much farmers are aware of the internet and GSM as a case study for information dissemination. It will look into how much ICT is used by farmers in their farming operations. It will evaluate how important farming practices based on technology are to farmers in rural areas. Identify the obstacles that prevent mechanized farmers from using GSM and the Internet. The research is only conducted in Niger State’s Suleja Local Government.

1.7 The study’s limitations

While conducting the study, the researchers ran into some minor obstacles, just as in every human endeavor. The researcher was forced to choose from a small number of sample sizes due to the significant constraint of the paucity of available literature on the topic as a result of the discourse’s nature. This resulted in higher costs and time requirements for the researcher to find the necessary materials, literature, or information. The researcher will also work on other scholarly projects while conducting this study. Furthermore, the sample size was constrained because only a small number of respondents were chosen to complete the research instrument, making it unable to extrapolate the results to other business organizations. Nevertheless, despite the difficulties experienced during the research, all aspects were minimized in order to deliver the best results and ensure the success of the study.

1.8 Definition of key words

Mechanized agriculture is the process of adopting agricultural machinery to replace manual labor in various farm operations, considerably enhancing the productivity of farm workers. Many farm tasks that were once completed by manual labor have been supplanted by motorized machines in modern times.

The Internet is a global computer network made up of interconnected networks that use standardized communication protocols to provide a range of information and communication services.

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) created the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) standard to outline the protocols for second-generation digital cellular networks used by mobile devices like tablets.

Information and communications technology, or ICT, is an acronym for information technology (IT) that emphasizes the importance of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals) and computers as well as the essential enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audiovisual that allow users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information.