ELECTRONIC AGRICULTURE EXTENSION AND THE RURAL FARMER: THE NEXUS OF TECHNOLOGY AND LITERACY

Abstract

The global system for agricultural extension is seen as a key strategy for addressing the farming needs of small-holder farmers. Ghana places much emphasis on extension officers and their systems but pays less attention to the needs of farmers and their views on using computerized agricultural extension services. This study assessed adoption of electronic agriculture extension services vis a vis technology literacy of farmers This research was carried out in the Yendi municipality of northern region, Ghana. The main aim of this study was identifying the link between literacy and technology adoption amongst rural farmers. The study location was purposely sampled because of high level of farming activities and prevalence of agriculture led NGOs in the area. Farmers who had ac cess to the training and visits by some NGOs were targeted in the four extension zones in Yendi. Through (Simple random) sampling technique, 195 farmers from the four (4) extension zones in Yendi were surveyed. The study adopted the mixed model design of gathering the data. Descriptive, linear regression and content analysis were employed in analyzing the study’s data. The descriptive analysis of the study revealed that, majority of the farmers receive agriculture-related information through multiple sources such as radio sets (14.29 %), television (3.97 %), NGOs (4.76 %), and mobile phones (3.17 %)The regression result shows that, Age, remittance, membership of MoFA groups, NGO groups, and access to credit and education were the significant factors influencing farmers' access to electronic extension services.at 5% level of significance. The study recommends that to further root the acceptance level of electronic extension services for mass implementation, systematic institutional changes are required to reshape the extension delivery system and services to meet smallholder farmers’ needs, including making them user-friendly.