The study analysed the digital skill gap of agricultural extension personnel on the use of digital technologies for extension services delivery in South-East, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of agricultural extension personnel in South-East Nigeria and identify the digital skill gaps among agricultural extension personnel in the area of study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 364 Agricultural Extension personnel for the study. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire and were analysed using simple descriptive statistical tools such as percentages, mean score, and standard deviation. Findings indicated that most of the personnel were male (57.8%), within the age bracket of 38 - 47 years (62.9%), had B.Sc./HND as their highest educational qualification (74.7%), married (86.3%), and had a household size of 6 - 10 Persons (57.7%). It was further revealed that the majority (70.1%) were members of professional organization, earned a monthly income of N50,001.00 - N100,000.00 (65.7%), had a work experience of 11 - 15 years (51.1%), and owned a smartphone/ iPad/laptop (91.5%). Findings further indicated that they had moderate skill gap in Basic Computer skills (Mean = 4.32), and digital communication and collaboration skills (Mean = 4.26). Findings also showed that they had a high skill gap in digital technical skills (Mean = 2.46), digital data analysis skills (Mean = 2.09), digital content creation skills (Mean = 2.43), digital ethical skills (Mean = 2.79), multimedia production skills (Mean = 2.81), and video library management skills (Mean = 2.39). The study concluded that though there exists a high digital skill gap among agricultural extension personnel in South-East, Nigeria, their socioeconomic characteristics are capable of supporting the implementation of digital extension services in the area. The study recommended that the management of Agricultural Development Programs in South-East, Nigeria, should provide digital training for extension personnel to close the digital skill gap that currently exists among the personnel.
References
[1]
ElDidi, H., Bidoli, T. and Ringler, C. (2020) Agriculture and Youth in Nigeria: Aspira-tions, Challenges, Constraints, and Resilience (Vol. 1946). International Food Policy Research Institute.
[2]
Patience, N.C. and Akaegbobi, G. (2022) Diversification of Nigeria Economy as a Panacea to National Growth. Amity Business Review, 23, 28.
[3]
Altalb, A.A.T., Filipek, T. and Skowron, P. (2015) The Role of Agricultural Extension in the Transfer and Adoption of Agricultural Technologies. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 3,
[4]
Bolarinwa, K.K. (2017) Agricultural Extension Personnel (AEP) Perception of Performance Appraisal and Its Implication on the Commitment to the Job in Ogun State Agricultural Development Program, Nigeria. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension, 45, 54-72.
[5]
Awad, M. (2021) Digitization of Agricultural Extension. International Journal of Modern Agriculture and Environment, 1, 99-112. https://doi.org/10.21608/ijmae.2023.214939.1007
[6]
Hoffmann, V. (2014) Governmental Extension Services, Their Generic Problems and Potential Solutions. Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services: International Conference Proceeding. CTA 129 Keynote Paper, 1-11.
[7]
Francis, J. and Addom, B. (2014) Modern ICTs and Rural Extension: Have We Reached the Tipping Point. Rural21 Publication.
[8]
Andati, P., Majiwa, E., Ngigi, M., Mbeche, R. and Ateka, J. (2022) Determinants of Adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies among Potato Farmers in Kenya: Does Entrepreneurial Orientation Play a Role? Sustainable Technology and Entrepreneurship, 1, Article 100017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stae.2022.100017
[9]
Antwi-Agyei, P. and Stringer, L.C. (2021) Improving the Effectiveness of Agricultural Extension Services in Supporting Farmers to Adapt to Climate Change: Insights from Northeastern Ghana. Climate Risk Management, 32, Article 100304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2021.100304
[10]
Kolawole, E.A., Isitor, S.U. and Owolabi, A.O. (2017) Determinants of Training Needs of Extension Personnel of Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) Ekiti State, Nigeria. Agro-Science, 15, 13-17. https://doi.org/10.4314/as.v15i3.3
[11]
Okeowo, T.A. (2015) Analysis of Competency and Training Needs among Agricultural Extension Personnel in Lagos State. International Journal of Forestry and Horticulture, 1, 14-21.
[12]
South East Archives (2022) Premier Times Nigeria. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/
[13]
Olumba, C.C., Olumba, C.N. and Alimba, J.O. (2021) Constraints to Urban Agriculture in Southeast Nigeria. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 8, Article No. 329. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-01007-1
[14]
Norton, G.W. and Alwang, J. (2020) Changes in Agricultural Extension and Implications for Farmer Adoption of New Practices. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 42, 8-20. https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13008
[15]
Sennuga, S.O., Oyewole, S.O. and Emeana, E. (2020) Farmers’ Perceptions of Agricultural Extension Agents’ Performance in Sub-Saharan African Communities. International Journal of Environmental Agriculture Research, 6, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3866089
[16]
Adebowale, O.A.L. (2016) Mobile ICT Integration in Extension Service Delivery: Case Assessment of Application Variance in Extension Tasks Executions in Southwest Nigeria. Journal of Extension Systems, 31, 11-24. https://doi.org/10.18765/jes.v31i2.8390
[17]
Iheke, O. (2014) Impact of Innovation on Smallholders’ Productivity and Poverty Status: The Case of Arable Crop Farmers in South-East, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 3, 301-318. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaees/2014/6503
[18]
Isibor, A. and Nkamigbo, D. (2019) Economic Determinants of Loan Repayment to Large and Small Scale Farmer-Beneficiaries of Bank of Agriculture Loans from 2010-2016 in Anambra State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Policy and Research, 7, 91-99.
[19]
Owoeye, R. and Toluwase, S.O.W. (2020) Assessment of the Effect of Bank of Agriculture Loan on Female Farmers’ Agricultural Production in Ekiti State, Nigeria. European Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 2, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejfood.2020.2.1.10
[20]
Statista (2019) Retail E-Commerce Sales Worldwide from 2014 to 2027. https://www.statista.com/statistics/379046/worldwide-retail-e-commerce-sales/
[21]
Pierotti, R.S., Friedson-Ridenour, S. and Olayiwola, O. (2022) Women Farm What They Can Manage: How Time Constraints Affect the Quantity and Quality of Labor for Married Women’s Agricultural Production in Southwestern Nigeria. World Development, 152, Article 105800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105800
[22]
Unamma, R.P.A. (2004) Agricultural Technology Generation and Transfer Strategies for Food Security. Proceedings of the 6th Annual Zonal Research and Extension Farmers Input Linkage Systems (REFILS), Nigeria, 12-13 November 2004.
[23]
Ema, E.S., Obidiegwu, J.E., Chilaka, C.A. and Akpabio, E.M. (2023) Indigenous Food Yam Cultivation and Livelihood Practices in Cross River State, Nigeria. World, 4, 314-332. https://doi.org/10.3390/world4020020
[24]
Ige, A.O. and Ojo, T.O. (2023) Does Agricultural Cooperative Membership Impact the Poverty Level of Cocoa Farmers in Southwestern Nigeria? African Geographical Review, 43, 650-664. https://doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2023.2218344
[25]
Manteaw, S.A., Folitse, B.Y., Mahama, S. and Wahaga, E. (2023) Sources of Agricultural Extension Information and Farmers’ Willingness to Pay for the Information: Evidence from Small-Scale Pineapple Farmers in South-Eastern Ghana. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 15, 514-523. https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2022.2149041
[26]
Asiabaka, C. (2010) Scaling up Agricultural Technologies for Food Security and Poverty Reduction: Whose Knowledge Counts. The Farmer or the Scientist? 16th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Technology Owerri.
[27]
Matthews-Njoku, E. and Adesope, O. (2007) Livelihood Diversity Strategies of Rural Women in Imo State, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 10.
[28]
Undiandeye, U. and Ani, A. (2007) Remuneration of Village Extension Workers (VEWs): A Issue in Sustainable Agricultural Extension Development in Borno State, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 10, 90-96.
[29]
Ajani, E.N. and Onwubuya, E.A. (2013) Constraints to Effective Communication among Extension Agents in Anambra State, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural & Food Information, 14, 18-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/10496505.2013.744648
[30]
Aguinis, H. and Burgi-Tian, J. (2021) Measuring Performance during Crises and Beyond: The Performance Promoter Score. Business Horizons, 64, 149-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2020.09.001
[31]
Fidelugwuowo, U.B. (2020) Knowledge and Skills for Accessing Agricultural Information by Rural Farmers in South-East Nigeria. IFLA Journal, 47, 119-128. https://doi.org/10.1177/0340035220951837
[32]
Kang, H., Turi, J.A., Bashir, S., Alam, M.N. and Shah, S.A. (2021) Moderating Role of Information System and Mobile Technology with Learning and Forgetting Factors on Organizational Learning Effectiveness. Learning and Motivation, 76, Article 101757. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lmot.2021.101757
[33]
Oyinbo, O., Chamberlin, J. and Maertens, M. (2020) Design of Digital Agricultural Extension Tools: Perspectives from Extension Agents in Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 71, 798-815. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-9552.12371
