Assessment of ICT Utilization in Agriculture Across-Gender in Enugu-Ezike Agricultural Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed ICT utilization in agriculture across gender in  Enugu-Ezike agricultural zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. Ninety (90) rural farmers (across gender) were interviewed for the purpose of eliciting information. The respondents had high access to mobile phone ( x =1.90), radio sets ( x =1.92) and television ( x =1.18). Agricultural information on available farm inputs was obtained and shared through radio by men (30.0%), youth (26.7%) and women (23.3%) and through mobile phone by men (31.1%), youth (27.8%) and women (25.6%). More men than youth and women perceived factors faciltating the effective utilization of ICT in agriculture. However, out of 83.3% of the respondents who perceived that adequate power supply was one of the factors that could facilitate ICT utilization in agriculture, there were more women (28.9%) compared to men (27.8%) and youth (26.7%). The study recommended among other things appropriate policies that will enhance ICT utilization in agriculture such as ICT packages that are compatible with the culture of the people and adequate ICT infrastructure that will ensure availability of internet
and network services at affordable rates.

Keywords: ICT, agriculture, gender, Enugu-Ezike