Agricultural Science Digest

  • Chief EditorArvind kumar

  • Print ISSN 0253-150X

  • Online ISSN 0976-0547

  • NAAS Rating 5.52

  • SJR 0.156

Frequency :
Bi-monthly (February, April, June, August, October and December)
Indexing Services :
BIOSIS Preview, Biological Abstracts, Elsevier (Scopus and Embase), AGRICOLA, Google Scholar, CrossRef, CAB Abstracting Journals, Chemical Abstracts, Indian Science Abstracts, EBSCO Indexing Services, Index Copernicus
Submit

Full Research Article

Effectiveness of New Media Technologies on Agricultural Production among Rural Households in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

John B. Effiong1,*, Martina N. Iheme2
1Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
2Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education, Obudu, Cross River State, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Background: This study assessed the effectiveness of new media channels on agricultural production among rural households in Akwa Ibom State. The objectives of the study were; to identify the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area, identify the types of new media channels available to rural households in the study area and assessed the effectiveness of new media on agricultural production in the study area. 

Methods: A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 250 respondents used for the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. 

Result: The results of the study revealed that 36.6% of the respondents were aged between 41-50 years, with 39.20% and 28.20% having secondary and primary levels of education respectively. Whatsapp was the most popular new media channel available to the farming households. In terms of effectiveness, it was observed that new media was effective mostly in improving crop and animal husbandry. The results of the hypothesis showed that age of the farmers and educational level of the farmers were found significant. It is concluded that new media is a veritable tool in the development of agriculture in Akwa Ibom State in particular and Nigeria in general.

INTRODUCTION

The new media is the latest buzzword in communication world. It has taken the world by surprise, with its cutting edge technology to connect rural households with the world. The new media is the world’s largest communication network, the network of networks, scattered all over the world, imagine a globe of the world with national boundaries, millions of rural people linked together with information (Yocom, 2021 and Effiong and Aboh, 2019). The new media platforms enable users to send and receive instant messages, pictures and videos or a combination of all, example; twitter, Facebook, 2go, Whatsapp, Youtube in agriculture, health, weather, climate, government policies, political issues among others (Yocom, 2021 and Effiong and Aboh, 2019b;  Effiong et al., 2023; Effiong and Iyamah 2022 and Effiong, 2013).  
       
In agriculture, new media promotes better communication and approach to agricultural innovation and technology dissemination. A farmer gains confidence in solving his or her farm challenges and psychological problems by the extension officers, hence make agriculture stay comfortable (Effiong and Asikong, 2012; Effiong, 2012). According to Idisa et al., (2013) the agricultural section is confronted by the challenge of increasing population in a situation of decreasing availability of natural resources. Factors of particular concern according to the authors are water shortages, declining soil fertility, effect of climate change and rapid decrease of arable lands due to urbanization. These they said calls for transformation in ways of sourcing and dissemination of technical information by the extension workers, which will eventually transform the agricultural sector. This opportunity requires the use of new media channels for information delivery that can take care of current and appropriate technological knowledge from extension workers to farm households in Akwa Ibom State without much distortion of facts (Aboh and Effiong, 2019c; Idisa et al., 2013; Aboh and Effiong, 2019d). Also, agriculture is dynamic in nature and needs a dynamic approach in technology delivery to rural households (Ijioma et al., 2012; Effiong and Enenyi, 2023; Effiong et al., 2021; Effiong and Effiong, 2015).
       
Traditionally, in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States 40% of the rural farmers’ mode of communication reflects their social structure and ideologies which are covered in it (Aboh and Effiong 2019e; Effiong, 2023). This is because the evolution of communication in the traditional society has been a part of historical process in the past (Ben, 2010). Moreso, Effiong et al., (2015) noted that media information is an indispensable factor in the practice of farming, such that about 70% of the extension delivery is through the new media. Aboh and Effiong (2019a); Effiong et al., (2023) in their study on the use of information and communication technologies by cassava farmers in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State noted that information plays a vital role in our present day society, at 70% probability level and this is as a result of the advancement in new media and its accessibility.
       
According to Aboh and Effiong, (2019c), over the years there has been alarming rate of information distortion, spoilage of produce, poor technology innovation dissemination among farmers and inadequate networking between research institutes, extension officers and the farmers. It is high time farmers embrace the opportunities offered by new media; such as the use of smart phones, internet services and e-marketing to harness the needed information on agricultural production, processing and marketing. This study would address the following objectives, identify the socio-economic characteristics of the rural households in Akwa Ibom State, identify the types of new media channels available to rural households in Akwa Ibom state and assess the effectiveness of new media on agricultural production in Akwa Ibom state.
 
Test of Hypothesis (HO1)
 
HO1
 
There is no significant relationship between socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and effectiveness of new media on agricultural production among rural households in the study area.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Location of study
 
This study was carried out in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Akwa Ibom State is a region in the South-South area of Nigeria, bordered by Cross River State on the East, on the West by Rivers State and Abia State on the North and on the South by the Alantic Ocean. The State lies between latitudes 4°321 and 5°331 North of the equator and longitudes 7°251 and 8°251 East. It occupies a total land area of 7.246 Square kilometers, with a population of about 3,920,208 million people (NPC, 2006). The state has six (6) agricultural zones namely; Oron, Abak, Ikot Ekpene, Etinan, Eket and Uyo and has a very high potential for agriculture (Effiong, 2023, Effiong et al., 2023 and Effiong and Iyamah, 2022). The State is suitable for food crop production, tree crops, fish and livestock farming; Crops widely grown are cassava, yam and oil palm, rice, fluted pumpkin, water leaves, banana and plantain (Effiong, 2012 and Effiong et al., 2021).
       
A multi-stage sampling technique was used for the study. At stage one, one agricultural zone was purposively selected from each of the three geo-political zones (Uyo, Oron and Ikot Ekpene) of the State namely; Etinan, Uyo and Oron zones, this is because these zones are predominantly crop and livestock farmers. At stage two, two agricultural zones were randomly selected namely; Etinan and Uyo zones. At stage three, one hundred and twenty five (125) registered contact farmers were randomly selected from the list of registered contact farmers in each of the zones, making a total of two hundred and fifty (250) registered contact farmers used for the study.
 
Method of data analysis
 
Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentage, means and standard deviation, while inferential statistics were measured using Tobit regression model, the Tobit regression model was used to test if there was any significant relationship between socio-economic variables and new media channels of communication.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Socio-economic characteristics of respondents
 
The result in Table 1, showed the socio economic characteristics of the respondents. The results indicated that 39.60% of the respondents were between the ages of 41-50 years. This implied that the farmers were in their agile age and could effectively utilize new media services for improved agricultural production. The study also revealed that majority (61.60%) were males implying that male household farmers in the study area dominated the new media space much more than the females. Also, majority of respondents 39.20% attended secondary school level of education, while 25.20% attended primary level of education. These results are indications that farmers in the study area 25.20% had primary level of education. These results indicated that farmers in the study area were susceptible to new media usage due to their level of educational exposures. In a study on the utilization of information and communication technologies among students of faculty of agriculture and basic medical sciences in Nigerian universities Aboh and Effiong, (2019c) found that half of their respondents were males, they utilized ICT tools effectively in their studies, seminars, workshops, conferences and research works. Moreso, a study by Effiong (2013) on effect of information and communication technologies on yam production in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria indicated that most yam farmers were between the ages of 40-50 years and were well exposed to the use of information and communication tools in their yam production business.
 

Table 1: Distribution of respondents according to socio-economic characteristics.


    
Also, a study by Effiong and Aboh (2018) on rubber production technologies and the related socio-economic environments in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria indicated that majority of the farmers were males. In the same vein, a study by Ijioma et al., (2016) on the determinants of adoption of selected NRCRI cocoyam technologies among farmers in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria indicated that education was an essential ingredient in the determinants of adoption of selected NRCRI cocoyam technologies among farmers in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. These results showed that the socio-economic variables in the study were necessary in the effectiveness of new media technologies on agricultural production in Akwa Ibom State in particular and Nigeria in general.
 
New media channels
 
The result in Table 2, showed the distribution of respondents base on new media channels available to respondents in the study. The results indicated that Whatsapp was the most frequently accessed source of new media among the respondents. This could be because of the relative popularity of Whatsapp among rural households in the study area. The popularity of Whatsapp may be as a result of its familiarity among the rural households. This was closely followed by the facebook, Google and the Twitter handle. These results is in agreement with the study of Idisa et al., (2013) and Effiong et al., (2021) who stated that new media handles are the most popular and easy access to agricultural information on technology transfer. The result further corresponds with the study of Ijioma et al., (2012), Effiong et al., (2016) and Effiong (2013b) that for effective communication to take place in agricultural production, there must not be any distortion in its channels. Therefore, new media channels lack barriers in its communication channels.
 

Table 2: New media channels.


 
Effectiveness of new media technologies on agricultural production
 
The results in Table 3, showed the effectiveness of new media channel of communication among rural households in Akwa Ibom state. Areas of effectiveness of new media coverage include; information on improved animal health and management, sustainable cooperative management system, market linkages and community pricing, improved storage facilities and provision of employment among very many others. From the result, improved crops and animal husbandry ranked 1st, as the leading effectiveness of new media on agricultural production, this was followed by sourcing and utilization of farm inputs ranked 2nd, storage and processing techniques ranked 3rd, cooperative management ranked 4th while market linkages and commodity pricing was ranked 5th. The indication from the findings of this study revealed that, there is a high level of effectiveness of new media usage by farmers in the study area. The new media channel has improved agricultural activities in the study area. This study is in contrast with the work of Ben (2010) who stated that social media is alien to the farmers in rural areas and are affected by their illiteracy levels. New media channel of communications has come to stay among rural farmers who see it as an easy way out of communication barriers in their household farming settlement.    
 

Table 3: Effectiveness of new media technologies on agricultural production.


 
Regression analysis of the socio-economic characteristics of effectiveness of new media on agricultural production
 
The result in Table 4, showed the regression analysis of the relationship between socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and effectiveness of new media technologies on agricultural production. The result showed that age of the respondents was significantly related to the effectiveness of new media among the respondents in the study area. This result showed that age of the respondents was one of the major factors in the effectiveness of new media in the study area.
 

Table 4: Regression analysis of the socio-economic characteristics of effectiveness of new media on agricultural production.


       
This result is in tandem with Effiong et al., (2015) who stated that age of respondents who adopted Pro vitamin A cassava production technologies (40 and above) was significant in the adoption of the cassava technology in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. The Table also revealed that educational level of the respondents had significant relationship with effectiveness of new media among rural households in the study area at 1% level of significance. This underscores the role of education in the access, utilization and effectiveness of new media channels in agricultural production. This result however states that higher level of education enhance greater effectiveness of new media technology in agricultural production. The study agreed with the position of Aboh and Effiong, (2019a) who noted that education is the panacea to new innovations and technological development in any given society.
 
Implication of the study
 
This study implied that new media innovation and technology is quite effective in agricultural production.

LIMITATIONS

Information hoarding by the respondents was the major limitation of the study.

CONCLUSION

The study assessed the effectiveness of new media technologies on agricultural production among rural farmers’ households in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The major new media facility used by the rural households was Whatsapp. Though other sources such as google and twitter were important, but Whatsapp was the most important source. 
       
It is inferred that education was a major factor in the effectiveness of new media technology in the study area. The hypothesis of the study showed that, age was significantly related to the effectiveness of new media at 5% level of probability. Upon these findings, farmers are hereby encouraged to utilize new media facilities to improve their farm production activities.

DIRECTION FOR FUTURE RESEARCH

Researchers are hereby encouraged to venture into precision agriculture using information and communication technologies as tools. 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

All authors declared that there is no conflict of interest.

REFERENCES


  1. Aboh, C.L. and Effiong, J.B. (2019a). Income diversification among small scale farmers in Boki Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development. 21(2): 3833-3848. www.ijard.org

  2. Aboh, C.L. and Effiong, J.B. (2019b). Level of participation in Telferia production among women farmers in Esit Eket Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development. 21(2): 3839-3842. www.ijard.org

  3. Aboh, C.L. and Effiong, J.B. (2019c). Indigenous practices militating against the olericultural production: Methods of improving its productivity in the Uruan  Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research. 16(2): 144-152. www.lwati.org  

  4. Aboh, C.L. and Effiong, J.B. (2019d). Adoption of different weed management techniques among cocoa farmers in Akamkpa Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences. 25(1): 7-12.

  5. Aboh, C.L. and Effiong, J.B. (2019e). Utilization of information and communication technologies among undergraduates: A case study of the faculty of agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria. LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research. 16(2): 26-33. www.lwati.org  

  6. Aboh, C.L. and Effiong, J.B. (2019f). Contribution of vegetables production to food security in Uruan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research. 16(2): 26-33. www.lwati.org  

  7. Ben, C.B. (2010). Sociology of Nigeria Rural Farming Communities. Dons Educational Publishers, Calabar, Nigeria. 233-237. 

  8. Effiong, J.B. and Aboh, C.L. (2018). Rubber production technologies and the related socio-economic environments in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 17(1): 15-22. www.globaljournalseries.org

  9. Effiong, J.B. and Asikong, A.B. (2012). Mid-term Assessment of the activities of Fadama III Development Project in Cross River State. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences. (1): 31-35. www.globaljournalseries.org.

  10. Effiong, J.B. (2012). An analysis of agricultural livelihood activities prevalent among rural farmers in Itu L.G.A, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. African Journal of Agricultural Research and Development. 5(3): 31-45.

  11. Effiong, J.B. and Effiong, G.B. (2015). Adoption of improved rubber technologies by farmers in Akwa Ibom State. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 14: 37-44. www.globaljournalseries.org.

  12. Effiong, J.B., Effiong, G.B. and Udo, A.U. (2015). Socio-economic detriments of production of Pro-Vitamin A Cassava varsities by farmers in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences. 21(2): 105-111. 

  13. Effiong, J.B. and Aboh, C.L. (2019a). Perceptions of farmers on the use of pesticides and fertilizers on locally grown crops in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development. 21(2): 3843-3849. www.ijard.org 

  14. Effiong, J.B. (2012b). Youth participation in community development evidence from Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State. International Journal of Social Sciences Tomorrow. 6: 1-5.

  15. Effiong, J.B. (2013). Challenges and prospect of rural women in agricultural production in Nigeria. Lwati: A Journal of Contemporary Research. 10(2): 183-190. www.lwati.org  

  16. Effiong, J.B. (2013b). Prospects and constraints of indigenous agricultural production in Nigeria. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 8(1): 22-25. www.globaljournalseries.org

  17. Effiong, J.B., Ijioma, J.C. and Effiong, M.O. (2016). Endogenous determinants of adoption of improved rubber production technologies among farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics and Sociology. 1-8. DOI: 10.9734/AJAEES/2016/21779.

  18. Effiong, J.B. and Iyamah, D.A.(2022). Analysis of perceived causes of conflicts among Yam farmers in Cross River State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Agricultural Science. 21(2): 141-146.

  19. Effiong, J.B., Enenyi, I.O. and Etim, A.E. (2023). Perceived influence of agricultural extension on cassava production by the farmers in Southern Nigeria. Agricultural Science Digest. 43(6): 883-888. doi: 10. 18805/ag DF-508.

  20. Effiong, J.B., Etuk, E.A. and Iyamah, D.A. (2023). Perceived determinants of oil spillage on agricultural lands in Ibeno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. 23(2): 22397-22409. www.ajfand.net

  21. Effiong, J.B., Aboh, C.L. and Ayah, C.F. (2021). Perception of farmers on the contribution of vegetables to livelihood in Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Science. 27(2): 85- 91. www.globaljournalseries.org  

  22. Effiong, J.B. and Aboh, C.L. (2019b). Effect of agrochemicals on the health of farmers in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. European Journal of Scientific Research. 154(1): 142-147.  

  23. Effiong, J.B. (2023). Assessment of the effect of conflicts on yam production farms in Cross River State, Nigeria. Agricultural Science Digest. 43(4): 536-539.

  24. Effiong, J.B. and Enenyi, I.O. (2023). Perceived knowledge of self- care among farmers with diabetes at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 22(1): 175-181. www.globaljournalseries.org 

  25. Effiong, J.B. and Iyamah, D.A. (2022). Analysis of Perceived causes of conflicts among yam famers Cross River State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 21(2): 141-146. www.globaljournalseries.org

  26. Idisa, Y.L., Ogunbameru, B.O. and Shehu, H. (2013). Use of information and communication technology (ICT) among Extension workers in Borno State, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension. 17(1): 69. DOI:10.4314/jae. v17i1.7.

  27. Ijioma, J.C., Effiong, J. B., Ogbonna, M.O. and Onwuamaoka, P. (2016). Determinants of adoption of selected NRCRI cocoyam technologies among farmers in Umuahia  South Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. American International Journal of Contemporary Research. 4(6): 182-189.

  28. Ijioma, J.C., Effiong, J. B., Ogbonna, M.O.  and Okolie, N.O. (2012). Small scale farmers participation in cassava (Manihot esculenta) production in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research. 4: 55-65. www.lwati.org  

  29. National Population Commission (2006). Population census of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Analytical Report at National Level of the Commission. 

  30. Yocom Technologies, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, (2021). A monograph published by Yocom Technologies.
Reviewed By

Download Article
In this Article
    Contact us
    Follow us

    Editorial Board

    View all (0)