Assessment of use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by Farmers in Makurdi Local Government of Benue State: Implications for Accessing Marketing Information

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the use of ICTs by farmers in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria, with a view of the ICTs being used to obtain marketing information. Farmers in Makurdi form the population of the study, and were selected using purposive and random sampling techniques. Primary data were used, collected using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Research findings revealed that the average age of the respondents was 37.2 years, 89.2% had formal education, and the mean farming experience was 16.5 years. The mean household size was 16.5 persons, mean farm size was 3.74 Ha, while the mean income was N451, 226.7. The highly accessed ICTs were mobile phone (ഥ = .) and television (ഥ =. ૢ). Mobile phone and television were also mostly used by the respondents. Farming experience (W =-2.47) and farm size (W = 1.99) significantly affected the respondents' level of ICT use. It was therefore recommended that marketing information be conveyed to the respondents through the highly accessed and used ICTs, while they are encouraged to use the other ICTs.