PERCEIVED EFFECTIVENESS OF MOBILE PHONE USAGE FOR ACCESSING AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION AMONG CROP FARMERS IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study therefore examined the perceived effectiveness of mobile phone usage for accessing agricultural information, it also ascertain the frequency of mobile phone usage and constraints to mobile phone usage for accessing agricultural information among crop farmers. A multistage sampling procedure was used in the selection of 394 respondents. Primary data were collected from the respondents through the administration of a structured interview schedule. Data for the designed objectives were analyzed using descriptive statistics while Chi-square was used to test the formulated hypothesis. The findings revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 47 years, majority (67.2%) were literate, had a monthly contact with extension agents, owns and have access to mobile phone. It was also revealed that respondents frequently use mobile phone to schedule meeting with farmers with a Weighted Mean Score (WMS) of 2.42,About 44% of the respondents perceived mobile phone usage to be of low effectiveness and inconsistent electric power supply (WMS=2.42) is the most severe constraints. Chi-square revealed that access to mobile phone (X2= 13.58, p= 0.000) and educational level (X2 = 3.72, p=0.000) had significant association with perceived effectiveness of mobile phone usage for accessing agricultural information. The study concludes that crop farmers perceived mobile phone usage for accessing agricultural information to be of low effectiveness. It is therefore recommended that concern stakeholders should facilitate infrastructural facilities such as rural electrification and good network coverage to the rural area.