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ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AGENTS IN THE DELIVERY OF SERVICE IN NIGER STATE
Author(s): P. U. Eleke, T.o. Fadiji, S. S. Onjewu, U. S. Maga
Volume/Issue: Volume 6 , Issue 1(2026)
ABSTRACT:
This study assessed the use of Information and communication technology by public and private agriculturalextension agents in Niger State, Nigeria.. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 extensionagents (60 public extension agents and 60 private extension agents) and 120 farmers in the study area.Primary data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire, focus group discussion and keyinformants interview. The data collected were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPPS)and participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques. The result shows that majority (66.7%) of publicextension agents were within the age range of 50-59 years. Also a high number (58.3% of private extensionagents were within the age range of 40-49years. Majority (93.3%) of public extension agents were males andalso majority (75.0%) of private extension agents were males. So also a high number (53.3%) of the publicextension agents had HND as their highest educational Qualification with 21 and above years of experiencein service delivery. A high number (50.0%) of the private extension agents had Bachelor Degree as theirhighest educational qualification with majority (63.3%) of them having 11-20years experience in servicedelivery. Mobile apps mobile cinema, what apt, radio and face book were the major ICT tools available forservice delivery among both public and private extension agents in the study area. Majority (60.0%) of thepublic extension agents used ICT tools for their personal affairs instead of service delivery and also a highnumber (56.7%) of the private extension agents used tools also for their personal matters rather than forservice delivery. The same finding equally indicated that the ICT tools used for service delivery were ownedby both public and private extension agents which constitutes majority (83.3%) and 65.0%) in the study area.Therefore, from the findings of the study, it was concluded that information and communication technologies(ICTs) are being used by both public and private extension agents not only for service delivery but for theirpersonal matters in the study area. The research work recommended that extension agents should beencouraged to adopt the use of ICTs for service delivery in the study area by given them technical andfinancial support.
KEYWORDS:
Assessment, Use, ICT, Public Extension Agents, Private Extension Agents, Delivery of Service
