ICT PHOBIA AND ITS SOCIOLOGICAL IMPERATIVES TO AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA

Omaku M. I. and A. O. Oyigbenu

Department of Agricultural Education

College of Education Akwanga Nassarawa State

E-mail:omakuisa@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Though the importance of information communication technology (ICT) in agriculture is emerging yet, its contribution and the challenges it poses are knocking at the door of the farmers which is ignited by globalization. There is significant shift from agriculture supply driven to demand driven paradigm in new emerging and changing economics typical of ours here in Nigeria. Hence, it is viewed that future agricultural growth would be information driven, as new information unit reach the ultimate user at the fastest speed to harness its potential benefits as enshrined in the national agricultural policy that emphasis on the use of information technology towards rapid development of agriculture. The information communication technology vision 2020 in respect to agriculture has envisage interalia; that extension and advisory services making use of information technology would be available to the farmers on round the clock basis, the tools for information technology will provide networking of agriculture sector not only in the nation but globally, having a reservoir of data base with a long term vision to bring farmers, researchers, scientists and administrators together by establishing agriculture on line through exchange of ideas and or information. Hence, the paper, underlines that the choice of ICTs should be driven by needs not technology and feedback be obtained on an ongoing basis to assess the users’ satisfaction and or otherwise of the technologies impact.

Keywords:

(ICTS), Phobia, Sociology and Agriculture