The Effectiveness of Mobile Phone Utilisation for Agricultural Information Dissemination among Tomato Farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined effectiveness of mobile phone utilisation for agricultural information dissemination among tomato farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria, described their socioeconomic characteristics, assessed their knowledge, and identified constraints to mobile phones utilisation. Quantitative data was obtained from 100 tomato farmers through a three-stage sampling procedure. Chi-square analysis was used to test the relationship between respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics and effectiveness of utilisation of mobile phones. The results revealed that 94% of respondents used mobile phones, 66% utilised their mobile phones for agricultural purposes, 62% had internet-enabled services on their phones, and 51% indicated that mobile phones impacted their tomato production activities. The severe constraints faced by the respondents were "no light to charge phone" (x? = 2.75; ? = 0.87) and "network issues” (x? = 2.68; ? = 0.76). There was a significant relationship between age (?²=38.720; p< 0.05), marital status(?²=270.440;p<0.05), family size (?²=63.061;p< 0.05), secondary occupation (?²=58.080;p<0.05), level of education (?²=71.703;p< 0.05), sources of labour (?²=45.200;p< 0.05), sources of credit (?²=174.960;p< 0.05), monthly income (?²=63.900;p< 0.05) and effectiveness of mobile phone technology (?²=58.080;p< 0.05). The study recommended upgrading network infrastructure, enhancing affordability of mobile services, developing user-friendly customized applications and fostering digital literacy among the farmers