Effect of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) usage on cassava production in Oturkpo Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study analyzed the effects of information and communication technology (ICT) usage on cassava farmers in Oturkpo Local Government Area of Benus State, Nigeria. Primary data was collected from 120 randomly selected cassava farmers using structured questionnaire complimented with an interview schedule. Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the analyses revealed that majority (78.3%) of the farmers were in their middle age with age range of 21-50 yaers. While 96.8% of the respondents had one form of formal education or the other. The sources of ICT facilities readily available in the area were radio (84.2%), television (64.2%) and mobile phone (90.8%) with the latter been the most relied upon by the respondents. Most of the farmers were aware (98.3%) and had access (95.8%) to these ICT facilities with 61.7% accessing them on daily basis. The dependence on mobile phone and radio were highly relevant in cassava stem selection, land selection, marketing of produce, land preparation, cassava planting technique and processing of tubers. However, coefficient of determination (r squared) indicated an 89.1% variation in the output of cassava farmers explained by the determinant factors and the output. Therefore, labour, fertilizer and farm size were significant at 1% level of probability, while ICT use was significant at 10%. Further findings showed that finance (78.3%) was the major constraints associated with ICT use. Recommendation were made on strengthening the use of ICT especially contemporary ones like the computer and internet among farmers for easy information sourcing which can boost cassava production output and income