Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
Winter 8-3-2016
Abstract
The poor performance of agricultural sector as a result of insufficient information has lead to food availability, access and utilization problems at the household and national levels. However, farming households have not maximally explored the full potential of ICT for accessing information related to food security. This study therefore, assessed ICT usage and household food security status of Maize crop farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting 212 maize farmers who were household heads. Structured interview schedule was used as data collection instrument. Descriptive statistics (frequency counts, percentages, Mean) and inferential statistics (binary logit regression) were used for data analysis. The finding revealed that cell phone (92.5%), radio (86.3%) and television (67.9%) were the most available ICT tools for accessing information on food security dimensions. More than half (52.4%) of the respondents were food insecure in the study area. Mean while, the estimates of Binary logit regression analysis showed that household size, membership of social organization, farm size, cell phone usage and perception towards contribution of ICT usage were found to have significant effect on household food security status. The study therefore recommended that extension institutions should concentrate on the identified ICT tools especially cell phones in disseminating relevant and timely information to farming households for sustainable food security.
The poor performance of agricultural sector as a result of insufficient information has lead to food availability, access and utilization problems at the household and national levels. However, farming households have not maximally explored the full potential of ICT for accessing information related to food security. This study therefore, assessed ICT usage and household food security status of Maize crop farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting 212 maize farmers who were household heads. Structured interview schedule was used as data collection instrument. Descriptive statistics (frequency counts, percentages, Mean) and inferential statistics (binary logit regression) were used for data analysis. The finding revealed that cell phone (92.5%), radio (86.3%) and television (67.9%) were the most available ICT tools for accessing information on food security dimensions. More than half (52.4%) of the respondents were food insecure in the study area. Mean while, the estimates of Binary logit regression analysis showed that household size, membership of social organization, farm size, cell phone usage and perception towards contribution of ICT usage were found to have significant effect on household food security status. The study therefore recommended that extension institutions should concentrate on the identified ICT tools especially cell phones in disseminating relevant and timely information to farming households for sustainable food security.