THE ROLE OF ICT IN DISSEMINATION OF MAIZE TECHNOLOGIES IN GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL OF FCT, ABUJA, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT

The study examined the Uses of ICT for Dissemination of maize Technologies in Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja. Primary data were used for the study. Multi-stage random sampling techniques were used to obtain the relevant data. A sample of 45 Extension Agents was selected from the list of Extension Agents situated in Agricultural Development Project (ADP) Gwagwalada Abuja. The data-set were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Likert scale. The result of socioeconomic characteristics depicted that Majority (70%) of the extension agents in the study were male. Majority (33%) of the Extension Agents in the study area are between ages 41-50. Majority of the Extension Agents had formal education. Majority were low income earners. Also, the result from the Likert scale distribution shows that 44.4%, 53.3%,37.8%, 42.2% agree that Telephone, camera, projector and tape recorder respectively were available to extension agents in ADP Gwagwalada Abuja. Also, from the result 33.3%, 53.3%, 37.8%, 44.4%, 31.1%, 33% respectively of the extension agents agree that tablets, handset, personal digital assistant, computer, CDs/DVDs and radio were available to them. However, majority (57.7%) of the extension agents strongly disagree that tablets were available to them. 62.2% of the extension agents strongly agree that lack of good roads is a major constraint to access to ICT in the study area. It was recommended that Capacity building program be organized for Extension Agents to increase their skill level and indirectly the use of ICT tools for dissemination of maize technologies. Also, small and cost-effective systems like GSM sets and radios should be encouraged can be subsidized and made available to extension agents since majority of the extension agents are low income earners. Key word: ICT, Utilization, Extension Agents