ASSESSING THE USE OF MOBILE CELL-PHONES IN DISSEMINATING AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION AMONG RURAL FARMERS OF WESTERN AGRICULTURAL ZONE BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study assessed the use of mobile cell-phones in disseminating agricultural information among rural farmers in the Western Agricultural Zone of Bauchi State, Nigeria. A total of 140 respondents were randomly selected from seven Local Government Areas, and data were collected using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and ranking, were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that the majority of farmers were young, economically active, and formally educated, with higher-income farmers more likely to adopt mobile phones for agricultural information dissemination. Approximately 95% of respondents had access to mobile phones, and 90% owned them (p < 0.01). The primary purposes of mobile phone use were receiving calls, making calls, listening to radio/music, and exchanging messages, while other functions such as torchlight and calculator were less commonly used (p < 0.001). Mobile phones were mainly used to access information on fertilizer availability, prevailing market prices, and prices of agricultural inputs, whereas information on credit facilities, disasters, and weather was accessed less frequently. Major constraints to mobile phone utilization included high costs of recharge cards, poor network coverage, and unreliable electricity supply (eigenvalues > 1.0). Based on these findings, the study recommends the provision of adequate ICT infrastructure, regular ICT training for farmers by Agricultural Development Programs and extension services, and subsidized mobile data packages to support effective dissemination of agricultural information. These interventions are expected to enhance rural farmers’ access to timely agricultural information, improve productivity, and strengthen the adoption of e-agriculture in Nigeria.