Utilization of digital tools in extension service delivery amongst extension agents in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the use of digital tools in extension services delivery amongst extension agents in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling was used to select 47 agricultural extension agents for the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire while analysis of the data was done using mean, percentages, and the Binary Logit regression analysis. Results showed that the majority (74%) of the agents indicated that they used digital tools in agricultural extension service delivery with WhatsApp (x̄ =3.60) and Video camera (x̄=3.60) as the most used digital tools among them. The extension agents were highly knowledgeable in the use of WhatsApp (x̄=3.66). Age, educational status, household size, working experience and sex were found to affect extension agents’ utilization of digital tools. The major constraints were epileptic power supply (x̄=3.72) and loss of privacy over the internet (x̄=3.66). The study concludes that agricultural extension agents in Akwa Ibom are aware of and utilize digital tools though constrained by some factors. It therefore stressed the need for training and retraining of extension agents on the use of digital tools by the Agricultural Development Programme.