USAGE OF WEB TOOLS IN ACCESSING AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION AMONG CROP FARMERS IN SOUTH WEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

Information is a vital tool in Agricultural production. Farmers may utilize web tools in numerous ways. It may provide new information services to rural regions, where farmers will have more influence over communication channels. Access to new information sources is essential for sustainable farming. Using online technologies effectively and efficiently can make extension workers' jobs simpler and enable information distribution and after-extension services. This enables a free flow and continuous contact with the farmers on updated information that is useful for agricultural productivity. The study therefore described the socioeconomic characteristics of farmers, determined the farmers’ usage of web tools in accessing agricultural information and constraints faced in the usage of web tools in accessing of agricultural information. The study was carried out in south west, Nigeria using a multi-stage sampling technique among two hundred and ninety nine (299) crop farmers. Primary data were collected and analyzed using descriptive analysis. Result of analysis showed that most of the respondents were male, 46.8% had primary education with about 15 years of farming experience and an average income of N760,000. The findings further found that whatsapp was the mostly used web tool for receiving agricultural related information by the respondents, however, it requires special types of devices to use some of the web tools, The study  concludes that if the constraints faced was solved, then the level of usage of web tools will increase and enhance agricultural productivity. The study therefore recommended among others that crop farmers needs to be trained on almost all the identified web tools.