ABSTRACT

The study assessed the utilization of computer-based Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by field extension agents of Agricultural Development Project in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. In all, 164 respondents were selected for the study using a two-stage sampling procedure. Data for the study were obtained with the aid of a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, rank and simple regression analysis. The study revealed that 40.9% of the respondents were aged between 38 and 47 years, with 76.8% being married, and 62.2% males. About 43.9% of the respondents had 17 years of formal schooling, with 91.5% of them living in male-headed households and 61.0% of them earning income within the range of W20.001.00 - W40.000.00 monthly. The most available ICT facilities in Agricultural Development Project, Akwa Ibom State were mobile phone, black and white boards, typewriters, television, radio/cassettes and leaflets. The most utilized computer-based ICTs by the respondents were ICTs for word processing, ICTs for storing/retrieval of document/messages, and ICT for Internet browsing to send and receive mails, literature search, music/movies and news. The result of simple linear regression showed that the rank/position of respondents in service directly influenced the utilization of computerbased ICTs, salary earned by the respondents, residency, computer literacy and availability of computer-based ICTs positively influenced utilization of computer-based ICTs by 0.821, 0.7581, 0.583 and 0.173 respectively. The study revealed that poor monthly-earned income level of the respondents coupled with non-accessibility to credit facilities, lack of/poor electric power supply and ICTs-enhancing inputs/infrastructures, and poor extension focus to dimensional challenges that is driven by urgency, times and desires were perceived as the major obstacles militating against the utilization of computer-based ICTs by the respondents. The study recommended that there should be a policy direction by Agricultural Development Project planners and managers aimed at making it mandatory for field extension agents at all levels to utilize computer-based ICTs; and the design of compulsory basic and practical computer literacy programme for all field extension agents