Availability and Use of Mobile Phones for Information Dissemination by Public Extension Agents in Delta State, Nigeria

The study assessed the availability and dissemination of information to farmers using mobile phones by public extension agents in Delta state, Nigeria. Data were collected from 64 randomly selected public extension agents from the three agricultural zones in the state. Majority (98.4%) of the exten...

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Main Author: C L Egbule, et al
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria 2013-12-01
Series:Journal of Agricultural Extension
Online Access:https://www.aesonnigeria.org/ajm/index.php/jae/article/view/4
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author C L Egbule, et al
author_facet C L Egbule, et al
author_sort C L Egbule, et al
collection DOAJ
description The study assessed the availability and dissemination of information to farmers using mobile phones by public extension agents in Delta state, Nigeria. Data were collected from 64 randomly selected public extension agents from the three agricultural zones in the state. Majority (98.4%) of the extension agents were not provided with institutional mobile phones to aid information dissemination to clientele. However, about 97% of the respondents affirmed that they possess personal mobile phones, which they (92%) use to disseminate information to farmers. Interactions with farmers were mainly through phone calls (84.4%) and short message services (SMSs) (71.9%). Mobile phones were frequently used in disseminating information on availability of new crop varieties (M = 2.1), and available markets for sale of crop produce (M = 2.0). The study points to the need for the public extension service to collaborate with network providers in dissemination of short programmed messages or calls that are beneficial to the farmers as well as creating a hotline desk that will readily provide answers to the immediate needs of farmers. This will facilitate the achievement of the agricultural transformation agenda (ATA) of the federal ministry of agriculture which aims at reaching the farmers with innovative agricultural information as well as agro inputs.
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spelling doaj.art-08f67485c5654020a7d00b2488fcc0012022-12-22T04:41:30ZengAgricultural Extension Society of NigeriaJournal of Agricultural Extension1119-944X2408-68512013-12-01172Availability and Use of Mobile Phones for Information Dissemination by Public Extension Agents in Delta State, NigeriaC L Egbule, et al0Department of Agricultural Extension University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Phones: +234-8038844428 The study assessed the availability and dissemination of information to farmers using mobile phones by public extension agents in Delta state, Nigeria. Data were collected from 64 randomly selected public extension agents from the three agricultural zones in the state. Majority (98.4%) of the extension agents were not provided with institutional mobile phones to aid information dissemination to clientele. However, about 97% of the respondents affirmed that they possess personal mobile phones, which they (92%) use to disseminate information to farmers. Interactions with farmers were mainly through phone calls (84.4%) and short message services (SMSs) (71.9%). Mobile phones were frequently used in disseminating information on availability of new crop varieties (M = 2.1), and available markets for sale of crop produce (M = 2.0). The study points to the need for the public extension service to collaborate with network providers in dissemination of short programmed messages or calls that are beneficial to the farmers as well as creating a hotline desk that will readily provide answers to the immediate needs of farmers. This will facilitate the achievement of the agricultural transformation agenda (ATA) of the federal ministry of agriculture which aims at reaching the farmers with innovative agricultural information as well as agro inputs. https://www.aesonnigeria.org/ajm/index.php/jae/article/view/4
spellingShingle C L Egbule, et al
Availability and Use of Mobile Phones for Information Dissemination by Public Extension Agents in Delta State, Nigeria
Journal of Agricultural Extension
title Availability and Use of Mobile Phones for Information Dissemination by Public Extension Agents in Delta State, Nigeria
title_full Availability and Use of Mobile Phones for Information Dissemination by Public Extension Agents in Delta State, Nigeria
title_fullStr Availability and Use of Mobile Phones for Information Dissemination by Public Extension Agents in Delta State, Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Availability and Use of Mobile Phones for Information Dissemination by Public Extension Agents in Delta State, Nigeria
title_short Availability and Use of Mobile Phones for Information Dissemination by Public Extension Agents in Delta State, Nigeria
title_sort availability and use of mobile phones for information dissemination by public extension agents in delta state nigeria
url https://www.aesonnigeria.org/ajm/index.php/jae/article/view/4
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