Implications of ICT Usage in Agricultural Extension Information Service Delivery in Tana River County, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to establish the effects of ICT usage in agricultural extension information service delivery to farmers in Tana River County. Specifically, the study assessed the distribution of farmers across zones with varying ICT agricultural extension information services access within Tana River County; the nature and level of ICT agricultural extension information services accessed by farmers; and the extent to which agricultural production levels by farmers in Tana River County has been enhancement by access to ICT extension information services. The findings of this study indicate that a wide range of agricultural
extension information services such as agricultural insurance, access to supplies credit and mobile banking as well as information on weather patterns, crop/livestock husbandry, markets, production forecasts and record keeping are effectively disseminated to farmers through ICT platforms such as cell phones, the internet, radio and television through customized messaging and this greatly empowers farmers to adopt better farming practices and improves agricultural productivity. It is recommended that agricultural extension officers should encourage and where possible facilitate more farmers to subscribe to ICT extension service platforms to enhance agricultural productivity. The findings of this study indicate that ICT tools such as cell phones, internet, radio and television, when properly applied in agricultural extension services, could greatly inform farming decisions and thereby enhance agricultural productivity. There is therefore need for agricultural extension officers to encourage and where possible facilitate more farmers to subscribe to ICT extension information services platforms to enhance agricultural productivity.