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Preparedness of Agricultural Extension agents for the awareness of Social Media in extension service delivery in Ondo State, Nigeria

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
  • 2Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
  • 3Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
  • 4Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
  • 5Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria

Res. J. Agriculture & Forestry Sci., Volume 11, Issue (3), Pages 29-34, November,8 (2023)

Abstract

In Nigeria today, the use of social media for communication is becoming more dynamic of which agricultural activities is not left behind. The study examined the preparedness of agricultural extension agents for dissemination of agro-information using social media in Ondo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study ascertained the socio-economic characteristics of the extension agents; determined the levels of awareness of social media tools by extension agents and the level of knowledge in the use of social media; One hundred respondents were selected for the study using random sampling and data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed a mean age of 42 years and majority (77.1%) of the respondents were males. The modal educational level was HND. The level of awareness of social media among the extension agents was quite high especially for Facebook (94.8%) and WhatsApp (94.8%) Findings revealed that 87.5% of respondents had low level of knowledge of social media usage. The study revealed a significant relationship between age (r = - 0.29, p <0.05) and educational level (r = 0.37, p < 0.05) and knowledge of social media usage. The study concluded that extension agents are thus prepared for the utilization of social media tools especially WhatsApp, yahoo and Facebook and thus recommends the use of social media as a major tools for agro-information delivery in this technological age.

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