Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) amongst Smallholder Farmers and Extension workers and itsRelevance to Sustainable Good Agricultural Practices in Nigeria

1. 3rd PhD Annual Progress Review
Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
amongst Smallholder Farmers and Extension workers and its
Relevance to Sustainable Good Agricultural Practices in Nigeria
PhD Candidate
Samson Olayemi Sennuga
M.Sc (Reading), B.Sc (Ibadan), NCE (Ijebu Ode) Supervisors: Dr. Richard Baines
Dr. John Conway
7th Dec. 2016

2. Let me introduce my Communities
Shika Community Primary School
The Villagers in Basawa Community Community Market in Basawa
Community Market in Shika
Community Mosque
Sources of Water

3. The Study Area
Purposive sampling procedure was used to select two communities
(Shika and Basawa) in the Northern Guinea Savannah ecological zone
of Kaduna State, North Western, Nigeria.
The Study Area

4. Research Aim
The overall aim of this study is to explore how ICT (Mobile phone)
could be better used to improve the adoption of Good Agricultural
Practices:
• To increase productivity of smallholder farmers in Nigeria using
mobile phone (GSM), and improve their market intelligence.
• And as an additional tool supporting traditional extension
approaches.

5. Major Field work
Data Analysis and
Interpretation
3rd Field work
 I went back to the study area at the
end of the growing season to
evaluate the impact of my training
and the effect of ICT on GAP
adoption.
 I conducted the Survey using
structured questionnaires.
 Semi-structured interviews
investigated Why farmers do not
adopt technologies? (barriers to
adoption).
 I also conducted market intelligence
using structured questionnaires in 4
rural markets.
Yes
Done
Sept – Oct 2016
Research Questions
1st Field work
 Stratified random sampling procedure
was used to select 120 farming
households from 2 communities.
 Adapted livelihood survey was used
to create a baseline for the study.
Yes
Done
Jun – Jul 2015
2nd Field work
I trained 25 Lead farmers per community in the use of 16
GAP technologies.
I asked the lead farmers to train 3 farmers each. Total 200
farmers.
I divided the farmers into those that use ICT and those that
rarely/without ICT. Therefore, I had 2 groups (With ICT
group 100 and without ICT 100). I gave my farmers an
action plan to follow
I trained ICT group how to use mobile phone to unlock
markets.
Incentive to the participants (Improved seeds).
Liaise with an NGO who subsidize fertilizers for my farmers.
Focus Group Discussions.
In depth Interview with key farmers.
Similarly, Focus Group Discussions with 20 extension
workers (5 each from Govt., NGO, Academia & Private
sector).
I visited their farmlands (Training & Visit Extension Model)
Finally, I sent SMS text messages to ICT group only as a
reminder to follow the action plan.
Yes
Done
April – May 2016

6. Category ICT Group Non-ICT Group
Lead farmers 25 25
Trained farmers 75 75
Total 100 100
Figure 1: Level of Adoption of GAP technologies by ICT Group
88
75.5
68
19
59
49
30
63
75.5
79
27.5
78
35.5
46.5
5.5
26.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Fully Adopted Partially Not Adopted
Table 1: ICT Group and Non-ICT Group
Research Findings
The majority of the farmers fully adopted some
of the recommended GAP technologies. This
implies that the knowledge acquired during the
training may be put to use on the farm, which
may increase their production significantly.
 Involvement of Active age group population in
the training and farming may also increase pro...

7. 60
50.5 49.5
15
40
30.5
12.5
40.5
56
50
21
48.5
20
29.5
4
16.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Fully Adopted Partially
Not Adopted
63
Figure 2: Level of Adoption of GAP technologies by Non-ICT Group
Research Findings
Study results showed that the farmers understood
the GAP technologies. This implied that most
farmers used the recommended technologies.
67

8. Average Adoption Rate
51.55
35.68
12.6831
36.9
32.09
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Fully Adopted Partially Not Adopted
ICT Group Non-ICT Group
Figure 3: Average Level of Adoption Rate Between
ICT Group and Non-ICT Group
An intermediate proportion of the
farmers (66.5%) had primary education;
they were educated and literate.
Involvement of literate populations in
training and farming could increase
understanding of the subject matter,
hence increasing the adoption of GAP
technologies and innovation.

9. Influence of SMS reminders on Adoption between ICT Group and Non-ICT Group
The t-test analysis showed a positive and highly
significant association between SMS and
adoption (P<0.01) in ICT group, while a negative
significant existed in Non-ICT group (P<0.07).
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
Significant Non-significant
P<0.01
P<0.07
ICT Group Non-ICT Group
This implies that the SMS reminders significantly
influenced adoption of the GAP technologies.
This finding is a unique aspect of this study
when compared to previous studies, and infers
that adoption of improved technologies may
be influenced by the use of SMS texts.

10. Figure 4: Farmers’ Perceptions Regarding Effectiveness of the
Overall Training Delivered by the Researcher (N200)
Se
rie
s1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Very effective
Effective
Not effective
70.5
27
2.5
A greater proportion of the farmers (97.5%) perceived
the overall GAP training as generally effective.
This suggests that the training was effective.

11. 66.5
28.5
5.0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Very effective Effective Not effective
Figure 5: Effectiveness of the Training delivered by
the lead farmers to their peers
Majority of the farmers (95%) felt that the GAP
training delivered by the lead farmers was
effective, while only (5%) reported the
opposite opinion.
This implies that the training given by the
lead farmers was generally effective.

12. Figure 6: Effectiveness of ICT/SMS messages as a remainder by
ICT user
This suggests that nearly all the farmers
(93%) agreed that SMS reminders were
effective.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Yes Partially No
76.5
19.5
4
Do you think the use of ICT has any
significant impact and increases your
agricultural productivity?
A greater proportion of the farmers (76.5%) felt that
ICT had significantly impacted on their agricultural
productivity. Generally, ICT (Mobile phone) were
perceived as a veritable tool by farmers.

13. 79.5
14.5
6
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Yes I don’t know No
Do you believe that ICT/SMS text
messages play an important role in
prompting you to adopt GAP technologies 77.5
20
2.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
High Average Low
How much do you follow the
Action plan set for this study
50.5
39
7.5
3
0 20 40 60
Very useful
Useful
Somewhat
useful
Not useful
Usefulness of ICT to improve
adoption of GAP
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Yes No
93
7
Getting up to date information
via your mobile phone
Use of ICT (Mobile phone) amongst Smallholder Farmers

14. Barriers to Adoption of GAP technologies by Non-ICT Group and ICT Group
18
30
42
55
68
76
89
0 50 100
High level of Illiteracy
You (researcher) did not remind us
Prefer conventional farming method
High cost of herbicides
Cannot access my action plan
I did not remember/lack of information
Lack of Cash to purchase fertilizer
ICT GroupNon-ICT Group
14
23
31
42
61
72
80
93.5
0 20 40 60 80 100
Low awareness level/knowledge
Lack of farm machinery
Inadequate farmland
High cost of improved seeds
Poor Government Policy in Nigeria
High cost of herbicides
High cost of Fertilizer
Financial constriants

15. Figure 7: Barriers to Adoption of GAP Technologies by
Farmers in the study Area

16. A New Model for using Mobile phone to improve Extension services
to Smallholder farmers’ in order to improve their productivity and livelihood Nigeria
Proposed Model
Price
Information
from market
Knowledge
ICT/Mobile phone
Improving Extension Service to
Smallholder farmers in Nigeria
Smallholder Farmers
.Ground preparation.
.Cultivation method.
.Weather information.
.When to plant.
.Good Agricultural practices/
techniques.
.Seeds varietal information.
.Fertilizer prices & availability.
.Irrigation methods.
.Agronomic advice
.Storage options.
.Access to Financial services.
.Information about Government/
NGO soft loan
SMS or voice
Extension services
in Nigeria
Market/Traders
.Fertilizer prices.
.Seeds availability.
.Commodity prices
.Whom to sell
.Crop prices
.Prices and effectiveness
Research
Institutions
SMSorvoice
SMS or voice
Farmer seeking advice

17. Analysis of Data and Interpretation.
Interpretation and Discussion.
Revisit my Research Questions.
Recommendation and Conclusion.
Future Plan for Year 3

18. Journal Papers ready for publication:
1. Sennuga, S.O., Baines, R.N. & Conway, J.S. (2016) Role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in
Enhancing Food Utilization among Smallholder Farmers’ Households in Northern Nigeria.
2. Sennuga, S.O., Baines, R.N. & Conway, J.S. (2016) Effect of Smallholder Socio-Economic Characteristics on Farming
Households’ Food Security in Northern Nigeria.
3. Sennuga, S.O., Baines, R.N. & Conway, J.S. (2016) Practice and level of Awareness of Good Agricultural Practices
among Smallholder Farmers in the adopted villages in Northern Nigeria.
Conference paper:
Sennuga, S.O.(2016) Practice and level of Awareness of Good Agricultural Practices among Smallholder Farmers in
the adopted villages in Northern Nigeria, University of Gloucestershire, UK.
Seminar Presentations:
2015 Royal Agricultural University researchers’ seminar. Topic: Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
among Smallholder Farmers and Extension workers and its Relevance to Sustainable Good Agricultural Practices in Nigeria.
20th May, 2015, Cirencester, United Kingdom.
2016 Royal Agricultural University researchers’ seminar. Topic: Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
among Smallholder Farmers and Extension workers and its Relevance to Sustainable Good Agricultural Practices in Nigeria.
11th Jan, 2016, Cirencester, United Kingdom.
Articles and Presentations

19. Research Progress by Gantt Chart

20. Impact /Contribution of My PhD Research

21. Conclusion to date
Findings revealed that adoption of improved technologies may be
influenced by the use of SMS texts, in addition, the use of “lead farmers”
may be utilized to spread knowledge and support the adoption and
utilization of GAP to ordinary farmers in the community.
This study will complement current extension with the use of ICTs in
order to boost production and improve rural livelihood which is seriously
lacking according to the literature.
It is anticipated that this study will help create rural prosperity in the
Northwestern Nigeria and may provide the stimulus for Agricultural
Information Centers to be established in the two communities via the
Ministry of Agriculture in order to reach the unreached.

22. Presentation of incentive
The Village head expressed his
appreciation to the researcher
Community meeting
ICT Training

24. Acknowledgement
Supervisors
Dr. Richard Baines
Dr. John Conway

25. Thank you.