AN EVALUATION OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AND ITS USAGE IN AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION DISSEMINATION AMONG FARMERS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
It has been demonstrated that information is the most fundamental element in all aspects of life, particularly developmental processes. Against this backdrop, agriculture has demonstrated itself to be an information-driven industry that relies on an endless supply of contextualized knowledge and substantial research resources. With varying degrees of success, numerous information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been developed, tested, and made available worldwide. The desire to help farmers improve their standard of living by increasing agricultural output and revenue or reducing the risk associated with crop and animal production inspired some of these technologies. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have emerged as the most widely used means of transferring speech, data, and services in developing nations. They provide the most cost-effective means for millions of people to gain access to previously unavailable information, markets, finance, and governance systems. People’s lives, the lives of businesses, and even entire nations have been transformed by new information and communication technologies (ICTs). Basically, the significance of ICTs in destitution lightening can’t be ignored any longer. Millennium Development Goal 8 (MDG8), which emphasizes the benefits of new technologies, particularly Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), in combating poverty, recognizes the relevance of ICTs in Nigeria, for instance.
In business sectors, nations, and regions where they have been widely embraced and integrated, ICTs have significantly aided socioeconomic growth. 7 out of 10 homes in the poorest fifth of the population have a cell phone, and nearly 40% of the world’s population is connected to the Internet. 1 Information and transaction costs have decreased, service quality has improved, new jobs have been created, new income streams have emerged, and resources have been conserved as a result of the widespread use and integration of ICTs.
According to Nnadi (2012), agricultural information is a collection of information about agriculture as a whole, including agricultural policy-related concepts, inventions, and technology. It is essential to emphasize that giving them access to knowledge improves their standard of living. This is because the amount of information they have is what limits their abilities, and they will always be at a disadvantage without knowledge (Muhammad, 2007).
Using ICTs in the agricultural and food sectors, ICT firms, multinational farm input businesses, large machinery manufacturers, and small and medium farm input providers offer a variety of services to farmers worldwide, including extension guidance. Through ICTs, farmers’ cooperatives, international organizations, civil society, and governments all participate in the food value chain. They use the technology to successfully provide information on many aspects of farming, including regulation. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that, in many instances, ICTs, particularly mobile phones, are thought to improve rural people’s access to information and opportunities for capacity-building. This has a discernible effect. Utilizing ICTs to gain access to more up-to-date and high-quality information on goods and inputs, as well as market and environmental conditions, farmers may be able to increase crop yields.
1.2 EXPOSITION OF THE PROBLEM Despite the fact that the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has resulted in growth in metropolitan areas, people living in rural areas are ignored and have limited access to ICTs.
Knowledge that could improve productivity and market research for their products and harvests is unavailable to farmers. In order to enhance their agricultural knowledge and information, farmers face a number of challenges in terms of information transmission and accessibility to ICTs. Lack of infrastructure has been identified as the most significant obstacle in using ICTs to address agricultural information distribution issues in Nigeria. Today, there is no business in the world that can succeed without ICTs. Due to the government’s lack of interest on the one hand and the enormous amount of money required to set it up on the other, the use of ICTs in agriculture, particularly among Nigerian rural farmers, is severely restricted. Consequently, it has hampered the free progression of data about sweet potato ranchers’ creation limit as far as land development, vermin and sickness the board, ranch produce promoting, and ranch tasks in agricultural countries like Nigeria.
1.3 Goals OF THE Review
The essential point of this study is to assess data correspondence innovation (ICT) and its use in horticultural data scattering among ranchers. This investigation also aims to:
i. To ascertain how knowledgeable farmers are about information and communication technology.
ii. to ascertain the various ICT tools utilized by farmers iii. to investigate how ICT affect farmers’ access to agricultural information to determine how easily these tools can be used by farmers in rural areas.
v. To learn about the difficulties farmers face when using these ICT tools. 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS The following research questions will be answered by this study.
i. How knowledgeable are farmers about information and communication technologies?
ii. What are the various ICT tools farmers use?
iii. How much of an impact does ICT have on farmers’ access to agricultural information?
iv. How easily can farmers in rural areas access these tools?
v. When farmers use these ICT tools, what obstacles do they encounter?
1.5 Meaning OF THE Review
This study will be helpful to ranchers as the consequences of this study will show ranchers the different ICT instruments to involve and furthermore show the degree of availability for a superior rural yield. It will also be beneficial to agricultural extension and the field of agriculture because it will demonstrate various methods for distributing information to farmers.
Last but not least, academics will benefit from this study because it provides existing data for future research and reference.
1.6 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The evaluation of ICT and its application in the dissemination of agricultural information to farmers will be the primary focus of this investigation. It will also examine farmers’ levels of ICT awareness, the impact of ICT on the dissemination of agricultural information among farmers, the accessibility of these tools for rural farmers, and the difficulties farmers face when using these tools.
Farmers from the Jos North Local Government Area in Plateau State will be the study’s enrolled participants.
1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY This study will only evaluate information communication technology (ICT) and its application in the dissemination of agricultural information to farmers. It will also focus on the level of farmers’ awareness of Information and Communication Technology, the impact of ICT on farmers’ dissemination of agricultural information, the accessibility of these tools for rural farmers, and the difficulties farmers encounter when using these tools.
This study will be restricted to ranchers of Jos North Nearby Government, Level State and accordingly this outcome can’t be utilized elsewhere until additional investigations is completed.
1.8 TERMS DEFINITION Evaluation: the process of determining something’s quantity, value, or amount; assessment.
Communication and information technology: is the infrastructure and parts that make it possible to use modern computers.
Usage: the state of being used or the act of using something.
Information: dissemination of learned or provided facts about something or someone: the act or fact of widely disseminating something, especially information.
Farmer: an individual who manages or owns a farm
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