Abstract:
The study was carried out to evaluate factors affecting use of information and communication
technology among farmers in Taraba State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire and interview
schedule were used to collect data from a sample of two hundred and fourteen (214) respondents.
Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean scores, standard deviation, and Logistics
regressions model. Results indicated that, major factors that encouraged use of ICTs by male
respondents included availability of electricity (60 %), provision of training (68.5 %), and level
of education(51.3 %) while that of females were use of generator (78.7 %), extension contact
(72.7 %), among others. Factors that discourage use of ICTs among male respondents were
inadequate training (76.5 %), among others while that of females were inadequate extension
agent contact (72.7 %), poor knowledge on use of ICTs (57.6 %).Coefficient of age was negative
(-0.036) and significant at 10% level of significance. The coefficient of education was positive
(0.089) and significant at 1% level of significance. Therefore the hypothesis that socio-economic
characteristics of the respondents do not have any significant effect on their usage of ICTs was
rejected. Government should formulate policies that will provide equal opportunitiesin terms of
ICTs training, to encourageboth male and females to be more productive in their contribution to
the economy. The study highlights the need for physical infrastructure such as electricity is put in
place by the three tiers of government to encourage the use of ICTs to sustain agriculture |
