Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 16 ISSUE 1
Written by Benjamin DIRE, J. I. ONU, A. A. U. JUNGUR, A. A. NDAGHU, D. Y. GIROH

The study assessed the awareness on the use of ICTs by agricultural extension agents in North east, Nigeria. The specific objectives include describe the socio-economic characteristics of the agricultural extension agents and ascertain agricultural extension agents’ awareness of ICTs use in their works Primary data was used for the study and were collected through the administration of questionnaires. A multistage-stage random sampling technique was employed to select 254 agricultural extension agents from north eastern Nigeria proportionately using Taro Yamane’s formula. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive. The results of the analysis revealed that majority of agricultural extension agents were between the ages of 41 – 50 years and non below the age of 20 years. A large proportion of the agricultural extension agents about 70% were male with only 30.71% female. Majority (91.34%) were married all (100%) of the agricultural extension agents in the study area had one form of formal education or the other with 45.7% and 1.57% of them had Degree/Higher National Diploma (HND) and Masters Degrees respective. Majority (77%) of the agricultural extension agents have been in service above 21 years with a mean working experience of 6.5 years was. 61.42% had grade levels of between 10 and 15 with 67.71% had an estimated average annual income of between N20, 000.00 – N 60, 000.00 only. All (100%) of agricultural extension agents were aware in the use of one form of ICTs or another in performance of their duties. As a matter of policy, all agricultural scientists and extension agents must possess proven skills in the utilization of ICT facilities like computer and Internet.

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