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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 SennugaM.Sc (Reading), B.Sc (Ibadan), NCE (Ijebu Ode)
Supervisors: Dr. Richard Baines Dr. John Conway
7th Dec. 2016
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
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
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.
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.
YesDone
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.
YesDone
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.
YesDone
April – May 2016
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
Soil management
Water m
anagement
Ferti
lizer a
pplication
Crop ro
tation
Compost and Green M
anure
Cover cro
ps
Impro
ved storage
Mulching
Striga co
ntrol
Spraying of herb
icide
Impro
ved planting spacin
g of cro
ps
Pesticid
e use/P
est co
ntrol
Impro
ved seeds
Use of c
rop re
sidue to
feed liv
estock
Spacing
Zero tilla
ge0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
10088
75.568
19
5949
30
6375.5 79
27.5
78
35.546.5
5.5
26.5
Fully Adopted Partially Not Adopted
Table 1: ICT Group and Non-ICT Group
Research FindingsThe 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...
Soil m
anage
ment
Water m
anag
emen
t
Fertilize
r applica
tion
Crop ro
tation
Compost an
d Green M
anure
Cover cr
ops
Improve
d storag
e
Mulching
Striga
contro
l
Spray
ing of h
erbicid
e
Improve
d planting s
pacing o
f crops
Pesticid
e use/
Pest co
ntrol
Impro
ved se
eds
Use of c
rop resid
ue to fe
ed liv
estock
Spaci
ng
Zero tillag
e0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
60
50.5 49.5
15
40
30.5
12.5
40.5
5650
21
48.5
20
29.5
4
16.5
Fully Adopted PartiallyNot 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
Average Adoption Rate
Fully Adopted Partially Not Adopted0
10
20
30
40
50
60
51.55
35.68
12.683136.9
32.09
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.
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).
Significant Non-significant0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
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.
Figure 4: Farmers’ Perceptions Regarding Effectiveness of the Overall Training Delivered by the Researcher (N200)
Very effectiveEffective
Not effective
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
70.5
27
2.5
A greater proportion of the farmers (97.5%) perceivedthe overall GAP training as generally effective.
This suggests that the training was effective.
Very effective Effective Not effective0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70 66.5
28.5
5.0
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.
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.
Yes Partially No0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
76.5
19.5
4
Do you think the use of ICT has any signi-ficant impact and increases your agricul-
tural 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.
Yes I don’t know No0
102030405060708090
79.5
14.56
Do you believe that ICT/SMS text mes-sages play an important role in prompting
you to adopt GAP technologies
High Average Low0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
9077.5
20
2.5
How much do you follow the Ac-tion plan set for this study
Very useful
Useful
Somewhat useful
Not useful
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
50.5
39
7.5
3
Usefulness of ICT to improve adoption of GAP
Yes No0
102030405060708090
100
93
7
Getting up to date information via your mobile phone
Use of ICT (Mobile phone) amongst Smallholder Farmers
Barriers to Adoption of GAP technologies by Non-ICT Group and ICT Group
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
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
18
30
42
55
68
76
89
ICT GroupNon-ICT Group
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
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
14
23
31
42
61
72
80
93.5
Figure 7: Barriers to Adoption of GAP Technologies by Farmers in the study Area
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
Know
ledg
e
ICT/Mobile phone bridge the gap
between agricultural extension
agents and farm
ers thereby
enhancing agricultural production.
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
SMS
or v
oice
SMS or voice
Farmer seeking advice
Analysis of Data and Interpretation.
Interpretation and Discussion.
Revisit my Research Questions.
Recommendation and Conclusion.
Future Plan for Year 3
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
Research Progress by Gantt Chart
Impact /Contribution of My PhD Research
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.
Presentation of incentive The Village head expressed his appreciation to the researcher
Community meetingICT Training
AcknowledgementSupervisorsDr. Richard BainesDr. John Conway
Thank you.