Assessment of Utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Among Poultry Farmers in Nigeria: an Emerging Challenge

The study assessed the utilization ICTs among poultry farmers in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used in the selection of 120 respondents for the study. Validated and structured interview schedule was used to collect data from the selected poultry farmers. Data collected was analyzed with aid of frequency counts, percentages and Mean as descriptive statistical tools, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used as inferential statistical tool. The result of analysis showed that majority (79.2%) of the respondents are male with mean age of 48 years and mean years of poultry farming experience was 8 years. Radio, TV and personal mobile phone ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively as the mostly used and accessible ICT facilities in receiving poultry related information. Technical knowhow, poor power supply and inadequate access to some of the ICT facilities are the major constraints encountered by the respondents in the use of ICTs in the study area. The result of Pearson Product Moment Correlation shows that Age (r=0.480; P < 0.05), household size (r=0.437; P < 0.05), income per annum (r=0.46; P < 0.05) and years spent in school (r=0.247;P < 0.05) exhibited positive and significant relationship with the use of ICTs. The study recommends among others that government should encourage the use of ICTs among the poultry farmers in the study area and in Nigeria at large through its inclusion in the agricultural extension programme curriculum of different states.