Comparison of use of Information and Communication Technologies between Agricultural Researchers and Extension Personnel in Nigeria

The study compared the use of ICTs between researchers and extension personnel. Agricultural researchers and extension personnel constituted the study population. Multistage random sampling was adopted to select the respondents. Proportionate random sampling technique was used to select three, two and two of the research stations in the South-West, Central and North-West agricultural zones respectively while the only research stations in each of South-East and North-East zones were selected. Ten percent of the researchers at the selected stations were randomly sampled. Then, 10% of the extension personnel in the 6 state ADPs, where the research stations are located were randomly selected. Structured questionnaire was used to collect information from the respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the variables of the study at p=0.05.  Most researchers (75.3%) and few extension personnel (34.1%) had high ICT knowledge score. Mean ICT use score was 33.0±15.8 for researchers and 25.8±15.0 for extension personnel. The log likelihood of researchers’ use of ICTs was significantly reduced by grade level (β=-0.729), increased by access to ICTs (β=1.807) and increased by perception of use of ICTs (β=0.303). The log likelihood of extension personnel’s use was significantly increased by available ICT facilities (β=0.343), access to ICTs (β=1.410), and constraint assessment (β=0.182). The disparity in ICT availability to agricultural researchers and extension personnel presents a serious challenge to agricultural information management in Nigeria. Hence, availability and accessibility were the major determinants of Information and Communication Technologies used by researchers and extension personnel

Comparison of use of Information and Communication Technologies between Agricultural Researchers and Extension Personnel in Nigeria

The study compared the use of ICTs between researchers and extension personnel. Agricultural researchers and extension personnel constituted the study population. Multistage random sampling was adopted to select the respondents. Proportionate random sampling technique was used to select three, two and two of the research stations in the South-West, Central and North-West agricultural zones respectively while the only research stations in each of South-East and North-East zones were selected. Ten percent of the researchers at the selected stations were randomly sampled. Then, 10% of the extension personnel in the 6 state ADPs, where the research stations are located were randomly selected. Structured questionnaire was used to collect information from the respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the variables of the study at p=0.05.  Most researchers (75.3%) and few extension personnel (34.1%) had high ICT knowledge score. Mean ICT use score was 33.0±15.8 for researchers and 25.8±15.0 for extension personnel. The log likelihood of researchers’ use of ICTs was significantly reduced by grade level (β=-0.729), increased by access to ICTs (β=1.807) and increased by perception of use of ICTs (β=0.303). The log likelihood of extension personnel’s use was significantly increased by available ICT facilities (β=0.343), access to ICTs (β=1.410), and constraint assessment (β=0.182). The disparity in ICT availability to agricultural researchers and extension personnel presents a serious challenge to agricultural information management in Nigeria. Hence, availability and accessibility were the major determinants of Information and Communication Technologies used by researchers and extension personnel

Analysis of E-Readiness of Agricultural Development Practitioners to Emerging Information Challenges: A Case Study of Research and Extension Personnel in South-Western Nigeria

Information is crucial to developmental process and the emerging information age bringsaboutchallenges thatcallfora shiftin the waysofdissemination the resource. The study intends to assess the e-readiness the developmentpractitioner, research and extension personnel in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for their activities. Four research stations in South-west Nigeria were randomly selected for the study Data collected were described using frequencies and percentages while inferences were drawn using Spearman andPearson correlations. The study revealed that most of the digital ICT facilities were not available in the research stations. A test for significance between importance of the facilities to their work andavailable facilities show that only radio (r-0.571) andtelevision (0.549) were significant. Thismeans that thepractitioners'extent ofuse the availableICTfacilities hasnotbeendeep enough to informcorrectperception ofthe relevant facilities for theirwork schedule. The ICT formats that were significant are both analogue formats that have been in use to a certain extent. The test for relationship between level of knowledge andavailability and use of the ICT facilities showed that lack of adequate knowledge affected the choice of ICT formats indicated by the practitioners as important for their work

Coping strategies of farmers to climatic changes in Ibarapa local government area of Oyo State Nigeria

Effects of climate change on agricultural production activities have been variously noted as being severe. Nonetheless, production activities must continue and the farmers must have significant income from farming to sustain their livelihood. This study assessed the coping strategies of farmers to climatic changes in Ibarapa local government. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents. Data collected through interview schedule were analysed using descriptive (frequency and percentage) and inferential (Chi-square, PPMC and t-test) statistical tools at p=0.05. Result shows that majority (65.0%) of the respondents were males, married (77.5%) with mean age and household size of 44.7 years. Also, most (86.6%) respondents had both primary and secondary education, had 3.6±0.945 persons, respectively and 54.2% had favourable perception of the effect of climate effect on their crop production activities. Coping strategies mostly used to manage the effects of climate change were delayed planting (weighted score=150.8), mono-cropping (134.2) and change in crop pattern (98.4), 55.0% of the respondents used the coping strategies appreciably. Lack of weather forecast facility (weighted score=192.5), lack of appropriate tool and equipment (186.7), low knowledge of climate effect (180.8), lack of adequate extension services (177.5) and lack of information about weather and climate (175.8) were the mostly encountered constraints with the use of coping strategies to manage climate change. The mean of difference used to assess respondents’ cropping activities yields shows that maize yield was most adversely affected (-14,606.0), then cassava (-11.028.3) and yam (-10,068.3). Respondent’s primary occupation (χ2=7.980) and number of dependants (r=-0.374) were significantly related to level of coping strategies used. There is the need for adequate knowledge about effect of climatic changes on crop yield for farmers in order prepare them for appropriate response to the reality of climate change. Government agencies, NGOs among other stakeholders need to put up educational programmes to meet the climatic information needs of farmers through effective extension services

Analysis of E-Readiness of Agricultural Development Practitioners to Emerging Information Challenges: A Case Study of Research and Extension Personnel in South-Western Nigeria

Information is crucial to developmental process and the emerging information age bringsaboutchallenges thatcallfora shiftin the waysofdissemination the resource. The study intends to assess the e-readiness the developmentpractitioner, research and extension personnel in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for their activities. Four research stations in South-west Nigeria were randomly selected for the study Data collected were described using frequencies and percentages while inferences were drawn using Spearman andPearson correlations. The study revealed that most of the digital ICT facilities were not available in the research stations. A test for significance between importance of the facilities to their work andavailable facilities show that only radio (r-0.571) andtelevision (0.549) were significant. Thismeans that thepractitioners'extent ofuse the availableICTfacilities hasnotbeendeep enough to informcorrectperception ofthe relevant facilities for theirwork schedule. The ICT formats that were significant are both analogue formats that have been in use to a certain extent. The test for relationship between level of knowledge andavailability and use of the ICT facilities showed that lack of adequate knowledge affected the choice of ICT formats indicated by the practitioners as important for their work

Training needs of women Cassava processors in Ibada/Ibarapa agricultural zone of Oyo State, Nigeria

Cassava is Africa’s second most important staple food after maize and yet the effort made by rural women in its processing has not translated to commensurate improvements in their socioeconomic status which is traceable to inadequate enterprise knowledge. This concern gave rise to this study with the aim is to ascertain the level of knowledge and skills required by women cassava processors. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 180 respondents for the study. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentages and means) and inferential statistics (Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation) were used to analyse the data for the study. Majority (72.7%) of women cassava processors were between ages of 36 and 53 years and (62.0%) had no formal education. Thirty four percent of the cassava processors attended courses other than cassava processing. The respondents had a low level of knowledge on cassava processing and their skill level is on the average. The training needs of the women cassava processors were indicated in the following areas; finance/numeracy, cost saving techniques, business management, value addition techniques and labour saving technique. The study concludes that there is need for training and re-training in most of the areas of their needs which will help the women harness maximum benefits from their cassava processing enterprises

Online banking user interface: Perception and attitude

Online banking user interface gives customers' the platform to link-up their bank servers and conduct transactions over the Internet.It provides both customers and banks with great opportunities. Security and privacy are one of the big issues that banks are contending with to survive the global competitive banking market.Many technological innovation and solution are being suggested to combat these issues.However, these solutions are making banking user interface more complicated and complex which is affecting the simple and clear natures of an ideal banking user interface.Thus, this paper aim at examining customers' perception and attitude toward the ease of use of online banking interface in Nigeria commercial bank.The study will probe on how advancement on online banking user interface securities feature affect customers' attitude and intention to use the interface.The investigation of this study was done in the light of Technological Acceptance Model (TAM). A survey was carried out on 500 respondents in Nigeria out of which 356 were usable, giving a response rate of 71.2 percent. Data were analyzed by employing descriptive analysis using SPSS.Findings of the study indicates that as banks are providing more security measures on their online banking user interface, similarly attention should be given to ease of use of the interface.Consequently, if banks can ensure that both security and ease of use are integrated on their user interface, customers will have more confidence in adoption and usage of online banking user interfaces without hesitations

Agricultural information channels used by livestock farmers in Wurno local government area of Sokoto State, Nigeria

This study assessed agricultural information channels used by livestock farmers in Wurno Local Government Area (LGA) of Sokoto State. A sample of 126 livestock farmers was selected purposively. Data were collected with the aid of an interview schedule. Findings revealed that majority of the farmers were males (87.3%), within 20-30 years of age (63.5%) and married (65.1%) with no formal education (67.5%). Their annual income were within ₦100,000 and ₦399,000 (46.0%) and ₦400,000 – ₦699,000 (31.0%). The major livestock produced were goats (73.0%), sheep (70.6%) and cattle (58.7%). The main channels of obtaining information by the livestock farmers were radio (85.7%), mobile phones (78.8%), extension agents (77.0%), posters and flyers (73.0%), friends and families (70.6%) and television (54.8%). Improving livestock health care was ranked 1st with a mean of 2.04 among the benefits of agricultural information. Result of the Chi-square analysis shows that information use of agricultural information channels was significantly related to age (χ2=9.890, p0.05) and income (χ2=8.93, p<0.01). Poor infrastructure and educational standard were among the most important constraints to agricultural information channels among the livestock farmers. It was concluded that the channels of information communication were affected by some socioeconomic factors such as age of the farmer, his family size and income