PERCEIVED EFFECTS OF MOBILE PHONES ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF RURAL DWELLERS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assesses perception of rural dwellers on agricultural uses of mobile phones and its effects on their livelihood in Niger State, Nigeria. Snowball sampling technique was used to select 125 respondents from eighteen (18) rural areas. Interview schedule was used to elicit data from the respondents. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, and mean. The result shows that majority (61.60%) of the respondents involved in the use of mobile phones were males. From the result 40.80% of the respondents were within the youthful age bracket of 21- 40 years, while 42.70% of them had secondary education. Majority (70.40%) of the respondents used mobile phone to access market information. The result shows that the respondents expressed positive perception towards seven (7)statements bordering on effects of mobile phone on rural livelihood. The highest perceived constraints on the use of mobile phones by rural dwellers were high cost of maintenance of mobile phones (76.00%). Low cost of mobile phone acquisition and subscription charges will help in enhancing the livelihood rural dwellers in the study area. The χ2 results revealed a significant relationship between age (χ2 = 59.4; P < 0.05), level of education (χ2 = 41.36; P < 0.05), sex (χ2 = 6.73; P < 0.05) and perception of rural dwellers on the effects of mobile phones on their livelihood in the study area.