Promoting the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Nigeria's agricultural extension service

This review paper analyses the challenge and opportunities of information and communication technologies for dissemination of agricultural information in Ethiopia. Understanding the challenges and opportunities of information and communication technologies enables to solve the problem of information problem to smallholder farmers. The data was collected, assessed and reviewed from recent secondary data sources from Central statistical agency, and scholarly articles published on the issue of information and communication technology in agriculture (ICT 4 Ag).Compared to the other sector like governance, health and education sectors, ICT-adoption in the agricultural sector has started relatively late in Ethiopia. Even though it is in infant stage, there are many agricultural ICT related service and application in Ethiopia. The current radical penetration of ICTs like mobile phone, website, social media and other internet/online services brings an immense prospect to farmers to create, share, store, process, interpret and preserve agricultural information and knowledge. ICT related agricultural extension system is the solely choice for dissemination of agricultural knowledge and information. Ethiopia is the country which has more than 65000 extension personnel for agricultural extension. But this extension system is not sustainable since it is very costly and inefficient. Thus, agricultural extension policy and intervention should focus on ICT based extension system.

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Strategies for capacity building of agricultural extension personnel in using information and communication technologies for transfer of technology

AGRICULTURE UPDATE ◽

10.15740/has/au/15.4/330-335 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 330-335

Author(s):

S. Helen ◽

N. Mridula

Keyword(s):

Capacity Building ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Agricultural Extension ◽

Transfer Of Technology ◽

Proper Training ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Ict Tools ◽

Computer Based ◽

Extension Personnel

A study was conducted among 150 agricultural extension personnel from five districts of Kerala to identify the constraints faced by the agricultural extension personnel in using information and communication technologies (ICTs) in transfer of technology and suggested strategies for their capacity building. Lack of proper training facility was recorded as the most experienced constraint with a mean score value of 9.48, followed by inadequate computer facility (8.82) available to them. The other major constraints experienced by the extension personnel were poor technical know how and conducting trainings at inappropriate times with a mean score of 8.32 each and lack of financial resources formain taining the ICT tools with the mean score of 8.03. It is suggested to categorise the extension personnel into two groups viz., those extension personnel who need the basics of ICTs and those extension personnel who require the knowledge on advanced ICTs. Target specific training modules, hands on experience, well established infrastructure, adequate funds and personnel for repair and maintenance, computer based trainings and advanced circulation of annual training calendars among extension personnel by the training organizations are the suggested strategies for the capacity building of extension personnel of Kerala in using ICTs.

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Mobile Ict Integration in Extension Service Delivery: Case Assessment of Application Variance in Extension Tasks Executions in Southwest Nigeria

Journal of Extension Systems ◽

10.18765/jes.v31i2.8390 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

Author(s):

O. A. LAWAL Adebowale

Keyword(s):

Service Delivery ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Agricultural Development ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Extension Service ◽

Time Usage ◽

Southwest Nigeria ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Mobile Ict ◽

Extension Personnel

The study examined the usage of mobile information and communication technologies (ICTs) in execution of extension tasks by extension personnel in southwest Nigeria. Findings are that mobile phones, laptops, and multimedia projectors were intensively used by all the extension personnel. Extension tasks executed were connectivity and linkages with stakeholders in agricultural development, presentation and teaching of extension messages, typesetting, and sourcing of extension information. Effects of mobile ICT applications in extension tasks executions include enhanced quality time usage in reaching out stakeholders in agriculture, reduced the risks of having to travel round the extension clients for interactions, and enhanced social interactions. Recommendation is that among several emerging mobile ICTs, appropriation of the devices for extension service delivery should be ensured.

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Exploring Information Seeking Behavior of Farmers’ in Information Related to Climate Change Adaptation Through ICT (CHAI)

The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning ◽

10.19173/irrodl.v19i3.3229 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Siza D Tumbo ◽

Nicholaus Mwalukasa ◽

Kadeghe G Fue ◽

Malongo R. S. Mlozi ◽

Ruth Haug ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Agricultural Extension ◽

Extension Service ◽

Service Needs ◽

Agriculture Sector ◽

Agricultural Extension Service

In Tanzania, agriculture sector is known for employing more than 70% of the total population. Agriculture sector faces many challenges including climate change. Climate change causes low productivity in agriculture; low productivity is caused due to poor implementation of agricultural policies and strategies. This poor implementation of policies has also caused many farmers to be not competent in climate change adaptation. Over the years, provisions of agricultural advice and extension were provided by various approaches, including training and visit extension, participatory approaches, and farmers’ field schools. However, provision of agricultural advisory and extension service is inefficient. Also, in most cases the usage of most agricultural innovations and technologies developed is limited. A literature review indicates that the main reasons given by Tanzanian farmers for not using improved technology are not lack of knowledge or skill, but rather that the technologies do not contribute towards improvements (e.g., the technologies are not profitable or they imply to high risk). Thus, agricultural extension service needs to be geared towards teaching farmers how to develop innovative and cost effective technologies that are contextualized. Limited numbers of agricultural extension staff and less interactivity of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), such as radio and television, have been mentioned to be among the factors limiting the provision of agricultural advisory and extension services to the majority of farmers in Tanzania. The advancements in ICTs have brought new opportunities for enhancing access to agricultural advisory and extension service for climate change adaptation. In Tanzania, farmers and other actors access agricultural information from various sources such as agricultural extension workers and use of various databases from Internet Services Providers. Also there are different web – and mobile – based farmers’ advisory information systems to support conventional agricultural extension service. These systems are producing bulk amounts of data which makes it difficult for different stakeholders to make an informed decision after data analysis. This calls for the need to develop a tool for data visualization in order to understand hidden patterns from massive data. In this study, a semi-automated text classification was developed to determine the frequently asked keywords from a web and mobile based farmers’ advisory system called UshauriKilimo after being in use for more than 2 years by more than 700 farmers.

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