ASSESSMENT OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTS) UTILIZATION IN INFORMATION DISSEMINATION BY EXTENSION AGENTS IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (ADP) ZONE B, OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

The study accessed information communication technologies (ICTs) utilization in information dissemination by extension agents in Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) Zone B of Niger State. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 100 extension agents. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive (frequency, percentage and mean) statistics. The results revealed that extension agents had mean age of 42 years; males (94%) married and educated. The mean years of working experience among the agents was 26 years while the mean annual income was ₦265,300. The results on the accessibility of ICT access showed that 96% of the agents use mobile phones, 84% use social media platforms, 72% use laptops, and 68% use radios. The results on the agricultural information using ICTs shows that weather updates had 88%, fertilizer 74%, pest and disease control 72%. The results on perception of ICTs among the agents shows that the overall mean score was x̄= 2.3, showing that most agents believe ICT improves their work. The constraints were lack of ICT skills with a mean score of x̄= 2.1, inadequate ICT tools (x̄=1.9) and poor internet connectivity (x̄=1.8). Collaboration between the Niger State Ministry of Agriculture, ADP, and telecommunications companies should aim at expanding rural internet coverage and reducing data costs to encourage ICT use were offered as recommendations.