Use of Information and Communication Technologies among Farmers and Extension Workers and Its Relevance to the Agricultural Development in the Province of Northern Samar

International Journal of Economics and Management Studies

© 2019 by SSRG - IJEMS Journal

Volume 6 Issue 4

Year of Publication : 2019

Authors : Ricardo A. Obeda

10.14445/23939125/IJEMS-V6I4P112

How to Cite?

Ricardo A. Obeda, "Use of Information and Communication Technologies among Farmers and Extension Workers and Its Relevance to the Agricultural Development in the Province of Northern Samar," SSRG International Journal of Economics and Management Studies, vol. 6,  no. 4, pp. 85-93, 2019. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23939125/IJEMS-V6I4P112

Abstract:

This study attempted to determine the use of information and communication technologies among farmers and extension workers and its relevance to the agricultural development in the Province of Northern Samar. Specifically, it aimed to determine the socio-demographic profile of the extension worker-respondents and the farmer beneficiary-respondents. Moreover, it determined the different modalities being used in extension services as to training, technology, and information and communication technologies and its level of effectiveness. This ascertained if there is a significant correlation between the socio-demographic profile of the farmer-respondents and the level of effectiveness of the different modalities in delivering extension services. In addition, this study identified the facilities available and used by the extension workers and the problems that the extension worker-respondents encountered in the delivery of modalities. Finally, the researcher proposed an extension program based on the findings of the study. The study utilized descriptive-correlational research design. Seventeen 17 municipalities in Northern Samar and 108 extension workers and 174 farmer beneficiaries participated in the study. Complete enumeration was used for the extension workers while purposive sampling technique was used for the farmer beneficiaries. A survey questionnaire was used as the primary instrument to gather data. The study used frequency counts, percentages, ranking, weighted mean, and multiple regression analysis as statistical tools. The findings of the study revealed that most of the extension worker-respondents belonged to the age group of 56 to 60 years old, earned a monthly income of P 20,001 to P 25,000, and had 1 to 5 years of service. A majority of them were male and a greater number were married and college graduates. As to the socio-demographic profile of the farmer beneficiary-respondents, most of them belonged to 41 to 46 years old, high school graduates, earned below P 5,000 monthly, and have been in the farming sector for above 25 years. A greater number were male and married and a majority used cellular phone. The extension worker-respondents and the farmer beneficiary-respondents identified and assessed the different modalities used in extension services in the province of Northern Samar as “much useful” with regard to training, technology, and information and communication technologies. The level of effectiveness of the different modalities in delivering extension services in the province of Northern Samar as assessed by the extension worker-respondents and the farmer beneficiary-respondents in terms of training, technology, and information and communications technologies was “much effective”. Regarding the relationships between the socio-demographic profile of the farmer beneficiary-respondents and their assessment on the level of effectiveness of the different modalities in delivering extension services, it found out that age, sex, civil status, educational attainment, monthly income, number of years as a farmer, and different ICTs used were not significantly related to their assessment on the level of effectiveness of the different modalities in delivering extension services in the province of Northern Samar in terms of training, technology, and information and communication technologies. The facilities available and used by the extension workers in delivering extension services in the province of Northern Samar were farming, planting, and vegetable productions tools and materials, ICT materials, multimedia, and new technology, and technical personnel services. The conduct of extension services in the province of Northern Samar faced problems according to the extension workers, i.e., insufficient allocation for travel expenses, availability and completeness of facilities, and lack of transportation facilities. An extension program was proposed to update and upgrade the agricultural development most especially in technology-based farming practices in the province of Northern Samar.

Keywords:

Information, communication technologies, agricultural development, relevance, level of effectiveness

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