EVALUATION OF THE CONSTRAINTS AND BENEFITS OF USAGE OF E-AGRICULTURE BY CEREAL CROP FARMING IN BORNO AND KEBBI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was aimed at evaluating the constraints and benefits of the cereal crop farmers in the use of e-agriculture information sources in Borno and Kebbi state, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study are to ascertain the benefits derived by the cereal crop farmers from the use of e- agriculture and to examine the severity of the constraints faced by the cereal crop farmers in the use of e-agriculture information sources. Three (3) stage sampling procedure was used for the sampling. The total sample size for farmers in Borno is 203, and the total sample size for kebbi is 197. The sample size was obtained from the sample frame using the Yamane Formula at 0.07 level of error tolerance. Structured questionnaires, along with interview schedule were used for collection of primary data. Likert scale of measurement was used to summarize the data collected and to present the result of this findings. The result on constraints revealed that, inadequate training and policy inconsistency which were ranked 1st and 2nd were the very severe constraints the cereal crop farmers faced, while the result on benefits unveiled that, increase in yields of crop with the mean score of 2.44 which is ranked 1st is the very high benefits the cereal crop farmers get in the use of e-agriculture. The study concludes that, adequate training be giving to the cereal crop farmers in the field of e-agriculture to enhance their adoption and usage of the packages.