Extension Agents’ Use of Mobile Phone Applications for Agricultural Extension Service Delivery in Ebonyi State Agricultural Development Programme, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed extension agents’ use of mobile applications (apps) for extension service delivery in Ebonyi State Agricultural Development Programme (EBADP). The study involved 100 field extension agents. Percentage and mean score derived from 4-pointLikert-type scale was employed in the analysis of data. The results of the analysis showed that the most utilized mobile apps for extension service delivery were WhatsApp (76%) and facebook (53%). Lowland rice production (65%), cassava/maize/vegetable production (58%), and upland rice production (47%) were the most recommended packages of crop production component that were extended using mobile apps in EBADP. However, the use of mobile apps for extension service delivery were limited as a result of unavailability of network coverage in rural area (84%), lack of institutional policy for application of mobile apps in extension service (75%), low ownership of smartphones among farmers (73%), poor farmers’ knowledge on the use of mobile apps (67%), and poor internet connectivity (66%). Government should initiate e-extension policy, making mobile apps extension services mandatory for public extension organizations; extension organizations should develop specific mobile apps that will support extension service delivery; and organizing training programmes for extension agents on the use of mobile apps for extension service delivery. Keywords: Mobile apps, smartphones, extension service, WhatsApp, Facebook