Use of Information and Communication Technologies among Women Farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) use among women farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. A sample of 60 women farmers participated in the study. Interview schedule was used to elicit information. Data generated was analyzed with descriptive statistic including percentage and mean score. Statistical analysis shows that majority (45%) of the women farmers were within the age bracket of 40-49 years. Majority (75%) were married, a good number (40%) had primary school education, half (50%) of the respondents had  a household size of 5-8 persons, majority (40%) had a farming experience of between 16-21 years, many (60%) practiced mixed farming whereas 50% cultivated less than one hectare of farmland. It equally reveals that radio (65%) was the major ICTs used by the respondents. High cost of ICTs facilities (M=3.0), high charges for electricity bills (M=2.5), poor supply of electricity (M=2.5), poor connectivity and accessibility (M=3.0) and illiteracy (M=3.0) among others were the constraints to the use of ICTs among the women farmers. Based on the findings, the following recommendations  were made: (1) The government should encourage  service providers/telecom operators to ensure that they increase network coverage to the communities by building more infrastructure (2) Government should provide electricity or other alternatives such as solar-powered facilities for farmers so that they can power their radios and other ICTs facilities (3) Reduction in electricity tariffs/bills and (4) subsidizing the prices of cellular phones in other to actualize the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) which is designed to deliver government subsidized farm inputs directly to farmers via GSM phones.

Keywords: Information and Communication Technologies, women farmers, Growth Enhancement Support Scheme