UTILISATION OF MOBILE PHONES BY RURAL FARMERS FOR AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION ACCESS AND USE IN KARAYE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KANO STATE, NIGERIA
UTILISATION OF MOBILE PHONES BY RURAL FARMERS FOR AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION ACCESS AND USE IN KARAYE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KANO STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2023
Authors
Alhassan,Yahaya Karaye
Babangida, Dangani Umar
Hassan, Mallam Ibrahim
Muhammad, Jamila
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
LAFIA JOURNAL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
Abstract
Access to agricultural information continues to be challenging for rural farmers due to the
use of inadequate sources and traditional extension approaches. The use of mobile phones to
access appropriate agricultural information is an overriding factor for the attainment of
successful and sufficient farm production and rural development, especially in developing
nations. This research was conducted in Karaye Local Government Area of Kano State,
Nigeria, to explore how farmers utilize mobile phones in accessing agricultural
information. One thousand two hundred seventy-nine (1,279) registered rural farmers
formed the population of this study. To better understand the relevance of utilizing mobile
phones by rural farmers for farming systems, 127 farmers were surveyed in three (3) wards
using a purposive sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data,
and descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages were used to analyse and present
the data. Information about herbicide control was the major type of agricultural
information accessed through mobile phones for use by the rural farmers in Karaye Local
Government; rural farmers utilised mobile phones to access agricultural information
monthly and occasionally. The results also show that rural farmers benefit from utilising
mobile phones in the areas of getting assistance in accessing agricultural information
quickly and getting easy contact with local customers/suppliers. The study concludes that
with timely access to relevant agricultural information by rural farmers, Nigeria can
attain food sufficiency. Therefore, this study recommends that, rural farmers should not
rely on information about pest and disease control but should also access other types of
agricultural information such as information for better marketing, prices of agricultural
products and also of new, improved seeds; rural farmers should make daily or weekly use of
mobile phones to be updated on agricultural information and quick access to their needs.
Description
Pre-Print Journal