UTILIZATION OF MOBILE PHONES FOR AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION ACCESS AND USE BY RURAL FARMERS IN KARAYE LOCALGOVERNMENT AREA, KANO STATE, NIGERIA
UTILIZATION OF MOBILE PHONES FOR AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION ACCESS AND USE BY RURAL FARMERS IN KARAYE LOCALGOVERNMENT AREA, KANO STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2017-03
Authors
YAHAYA, ALHASSAN KARAYE,
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Abstract
This study investigated the Utilisation of Mobile Phones for Agricultural Information Access and Use by Rural Farmers in Karaye Local Government Area, Kano State. Five (5) research questions and objectives were formulated. The research objectives sought to : ascertain how the rural farmers utilized mobile phones to access agricultural information for use in Karaye Local Government Area Kano State; determine the extent of use of mobile phones; find out the types of agricultural information that were accessed through mobile phones; investigate the extent to which the agricultural information accessed through mobile phones was utilized; and to reveal thechallenges to the utilization of mobile phones for agricultural information access.A survey research method was employed in the conduct of the study.The population of the study consists of all the registeredrural farmers in ten (10) wards of Karaye Local Government Area, Kano State of Nigeria. Out of the total population of 1,279 registered rural farmers, 121 farmers and three (3) wardswere purposively selected. A structured questionnaire containing closed-ended questionnaire was designed and used for data collection. Data related to the research questions were analysed using frequency tables and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that the major procedure through which the rural farmers utilized mobile phones to access agricultural information was through Short Text Message Service (SMS), majority of the rural farmersused mobile phones to access and utilize agricultural information monthly and occasionally, information about herbicide control was the major type of agricultural information accessed through mobile phone, majority of the rural farmers utilized information about pest and disease control as well as information about livestock management annually, and inability to access formal channel of information was the major challenge to the rural farmers encountered with regards to the utilization of mobile phones for agricultural information access and use. The study recommended that rural farmers in Karaye Local Government Area, Kano State should stick to the use of short text message services (SMS) and make appropriate and timely use of mobile phones by making voice calls to accessagricultural information - so as to have direct contact with extension workers and other relevant stake holders, rural farmers should also be encouraged to access other different types of agricultural information such as information about new improved seeds; they should also be encouraged to make timely utilization of accessed agricultural information; and the government of Nigeria (through State and Local authorities) should enhance access to formal channel of information such as the extension workers by collaborating with telecommunication companies in establishing network services in rural areas for timely access to agricultural information that would improve agricultural productivity.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIRMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF AMASTER DEGREE IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE (MLIS). DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE, FACULTY OF EDUCATION AHMADU BELLO UNVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
UTILIZATION OF MOBILE PHONES,, AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION ACCESS,, RURAL FARMERS,, KARAYE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA,, KANO STATE,