CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of the Study
Agriculture remains a major sector in most African countries where it accounts up to 40% of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and up to 60% of export revenue. It is considered a major source of income to a significant share of rural households. Despite this importance, the agricultural sector in Africa has consistently faced a crucial problem of low productivity. As consequence, increase in agricultural crop production relies mainly on area expansion (Alia, Nakelse & Diagne, 2013). However, area expansion is becoming difficult because of the demographic pressure due to population increase and urbanization. Similarly, water is becoming a rare commodity in many economies, especially in West Africa.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), known as the Global Goals, reinforce the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), 8 anti-poverty objectives that the globe is dedicated to attaining come 2015. Goal number two (2) intends to get rid of the issue of hunger, attaining food stability and enhanced diets, and enhancing productive agriculture.
In Nigeria, irrigated crops is an area of focus in agricultural transition and food security technique of the current regime. Risen accessibility of irrigation and less reliance on rain to water crops is treated as a means to accelerate food output and autonomy of the ever rising population of the country (Mwenzwa & Misati, 2014). However, threats to agricultural production are worsening with the negative effects of climate change. Thus, raising productivity through technological adoption could be the most sustainable option (Alia, Nakelse & Diagne, 2013). The use of Information Communications Technology in irrigated cassava production presents an opportunity for farmers in irrigated cassava production to increase their yields through gathering, preserving, processing, conveyance and exhibition of information to increase their farm yields.
ICTs basically describes the widening groups of technologies utilised to deal with data and assist dissemination. They encompass hardware, software, media for gathering, storage, producing, dissemination, and depiction of data in any manner. That is, voice, information, text and image, PCs, and the World Wide Web, CD-ROMs, electronic mail, telephone, radio, TV, video and digital cameras. Information Communication Technologies are perceived to lead to both economic and social growth by developing a favourable surrounding. Approximately, each action in the contemporary world is headed to total reliant on the use of ICTs for a single purpose or the other. The advantages of Information Communication Technologies attain even those without primary access (Asenso-Okyere & Mekonnen, 2012).
Literature indicates that technology has a good effect on the development of any nation. In Ogun, the state has allowed farmers to use ICTs to improve the cultivation of cassava and other agricultural activities (Sangbuapuan, 2012). In India, Syiem and Raj (2015) found that farmers stated that mobile handsets have helped in the event of health emergencies. Most importantly we found the indirect effect of listening to cassava program on radio is significantly positive. In Nigeria, Njoroge and Kinyua (2014) agree that ICTs have also had an effect on the agricultural sector, such as agribusiness and agricultural production. The agricultural sector continues to adopt technological innovations and ICTs are also some of such innovations.
1.1 Statement of the Problem
In agriculture, the function of information and communication in disseminating agricultural knowledge has been well established (Das, 2013). Bachhav (2012) pointed out that, the application of information in the farming sector is improving agricultural productivity in many ways. Giving information on weather patterns, good practice in agriculture, convenience to market data assists farmers make appropriate choices regarding the type of crops to plant and the location of selling their produce and acquire inputs. Richardson et al. (1998) illustrated that the information demands of farmers vary with time because of the transforming agricultural technologies, environment, rules and regulation and the surfacing of agricultural inventions. Some of the challenges that cassava farmers encounter include absence of a good way of collecting farm produce information, document input costs, as well as expenses on farm inputs and obtain information from other partners (Oluoch & Osida, 2015).
Studies (Mambala, 2007; Uphoff, 2012) have shown that there is evidence to suggest that there is ICT use among irrigated cassava production farmers. This study therefore seeks to assess the strategic application of information communication technologies in cassava production; barriers to ICTs use and examine influence of ICTs use in irrigated cassava production by farmers under the NWSA irrigation scheme.
1.2 General Objective
The general objective of the study was to examine Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) adoption by farmers.
1.2.1 Specific Objectives
The study was guided by the following specific objectives;
- To identify use of ICTs in irrigated cassava production
- To identify barriers of ICTs use in irrigated cassava production.
- To examine influence of ICTs use in irrigated cassava production.
1.2.2 Research Questions
The study aimed to answer the following research questions;
- How do farmers use ICTs in irrigated cassava production?
- What are the barriers to ICTs use in cassava production?
- How do ICTs use influence irrigated cassava production?
1.3 Rationale and Justification of the study
Agricultural advancement in Nigeria is crucial since it has certain and immediate significance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. The acquisition of existing and emerging advancements in the agricultural sector provides an opportunity to improve the performance of the sector as a major contributor to the nation’s development (Mureithi, Bett & Ogaleh, 2009). One of the key sectors in agriculture is irrigation and more so irrigated cassava production.
There has been an exponential growth on the availability and accessibility of ICTs in Nigeria which are being used in industries to enhance their productivity. Similarly, there are available ICT that can be used in irrigated cassava production. Nigeria is experiencing an increase in ICT use to enhance and improve its competitiveness in the global market. There is an opportunity for irrigation cassava farmers to use these technologies and ICT innovation to improve their productivity. The study is therefore timely and justified as it will investigate the use of ICT in cassava irrigation schemes and make recommendations to enhance ICT use in cassava production. The study’s rationale is based on the poor performance of irrigated cassava production which has not been able to meet the nation’s demand for cassava.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The study is of importance to policy makers and key players in the irrigation sector because it identified the barriers to ICTs adoption and the information needs for cassava producers.
1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study
The study was limited to NWSA Irrigation Scheme, Niger state. The perception on ICTs and its effectiveness differ from farmer to farmer and that is accountable to many factors/criteria. The study focused on the influence of ICTs in irrigated cassava production, the barriers of ICTs use in irrigated cassava production and influence of ICTs use in irrigated cassava production.
1.6 Operational Definition of Terms
Information Communication Technology – These refer to modern technologies which are used for communication purposes. These include radio, mobile phones, tablets, and television and internet portable devices.
Barriers – Refer to the challenges and constraints of farmers in their ability to use ICTs to enhance irrigated cassava production. These constraints are those that limit the use of ICTs among irrigated cassava farmers.
Adoption – In this study, it refers to the application of information communication technologies to cassava farmers in agricultural production. This means the actual use of ICTs in seeking information on irrigated cassava production.
Agricultural Production – This refers to the production of crops and livestock. Agricultural production in this study refers to the production of cassava and refers to all the activities involved in irrigated cassava production.
