Information communication technologies utilization and profitability of catfish farming in Ijebu-Ode Zone of the agricultural development programme, Ogun State

Abstract

The effect of information communication technologies utilization on profitability was examined among 120 catfish farmers drawn through a multistage sampling procedure. Data were elicited with the aid of a structured questionnaire, analysed using percentages, budgetary technique and multiple regression model. Agricultural media information sources utilized by the farmers include mobile phone (79.2%), television (76.7%) and radio (68.3%). The result revealed that ₦592,448.90 was expended as cost per annum on fish production with ₦970,700.54 as revenue and a gross margin of ₦438,880.28 among ICT users while for non-ICT users ₦652,067.47, ₦1,026,428.66 and ₦427,337.41 were obtained as total cost, revenue and gross margin respectively. A value of 0.64 realized on the investment among ICT users implies that for every ₦1 invested in catfish farming, ₦1.64 is gotten as returns, leaving a profit of ₦0.64 while a profit of ₦0.57 is realized among non-ICT users. The factors that determine the profitability of catfish farming include household size (10%), input cost (1%) and television usage (5%) as agricultural media information source. Catfish farmers who utilized ICT have a higher profit level than non-users. Efforts and policies that will promote the farmers’ timely availability and accessibility of agricultural information, particularly through television is recommended.