Abstract:
This study assessed the adoption of Information Communication Technologies by farmers in
rural areas of Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was
used to select 142 farmers. The data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaires and
analysed using descriptive statistics and logit regression analysis. The results showed that
majority (91.4 percent) of the respondents are using GSM/cell phone, 83.5 percent used radio
and 66. 2 percent used television set. Those that adopted internet electronic mailing constitute
20.1 percent and this was among the lowest adoption rate of ICTs components observed in this
study. The findings also revealed that ICTs are being used to established contacts by the farmers.
Majority (84.2 percent) reported that they established contacts with the use of ICTs. Those that
are getting information on government policies constitute 43.2 percent. About 48 percent benefit
from market information through the use of ICTs. Socio-economic factors influencing adoption
of ICTs in the study area were age, education, access to credit and farmers income are the factors
influencing the use ICTs among the farmers. The study recommends that provision of sustainable
rural infrastructure such as electricity should be intensified by government and nongovernmental
agencies so as to increase the usage of ICTs for the development of agriculture. |
