Adoption of information and communication technologies as source of information on agricultural innovations among farm households in Nigeria: evidence from Benue state”

Abstract

The study analyzed adoption of ICTs as source of information on agricultural innovations in Nigeria. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to one hundred and twenty (120) Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) farmers sampled in Benue State. Results show that Radio (46.7%), Newspapers (45.8%), contact farmers (42.5%), and extension agents (41.7%) ranked first, second, third and fourth respectively in terms of adoption by farmers. Level of education, and incomes were the significant (P<0.05) determinants of ICT adoption. Enabling policy environment that would encourage utilization of ICTs through deliberate programmes that expose farming communities to ICTs and support incomes such as highly subsidized ICT trainings and increased credit facilities to rural farmers would enhance adoption of ICTs in Nigeria.

Keywords

• ICT
• Agricultural innovations
• Nigeria
• Adoption