UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) FOR EXTENSION SERVICE DELIVERY AMONG FARMERS IN OGBOMOSO AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF OYO STATE

Abstract

This paper investigated farmer’s utilization of ICT for Extension Service Delivery among Farmers in Ogbomoso Agricultural zone of Oyo State. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 240 respondents through schedule for the study. Findings showed that the farmers were still in their active years with mean age of 45.9 years and majority being married (84.9%). Mostly used ICT were radio and mobile phone which were used to source information on market price, input supplies, market for produce, input prices, linking middlemen and buyers and timely production information. About 67% of the female had poor use of ICTs. There was a digital divide between male and female. Constraints faced in the use of ICTs include poor electricity supply (69.6%) and high initial purchase cost of ICT device (62.3%). Age had a negative significant relationship (t = -2.28) with ICT use while years spent schooling and income had positive significant influence (t = 3.77) in the use of ICT among farmers at p = 0.05. Extension service should ensure that information given to the farmers especially through ICT result in increased productivity that will guarantee increased income for the farmers so that they get more interested in using ICTs to get information.