Perception of Extension Personnel on Suitability and Benefits of Using Social Media in Communicating Agricultural Information in Enugu State, Nigeria

• Published in: Journal of agricultural extension 2019-07, Vol.23 (3), p.172
• Main Authors: Iwuchukwu, Juliana Chinasa, Eke, Okechukwu George, Nwobodo, Cynthia Ebere
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1119-944X; 2408-6851
• DOI: 10.4314/jae.v23i3.15

The study ascertained suitability and benefits of using social media  in communicating agricultural information.   Ninety seven extension workers proportionately selected from six agricultural zones in Enugu state, Nigeria constituted sample for the study. Questionnaire was used for collection of data while  percentage and mean scores were used to present  the data. Findings reveal that majority (81.4%) of the respondents possessed facilities used in accessing social media, while  facebook (82.4%) and  whatsapp(74.2%) were social media resources used by  the  respondents.  Majority (70.1%) of the respondents indicated that facebook is  a social medium suitable for communicating the best soil for different agricultural practices, while 69.1% indicated that it  is suitable for creation of awareness and participation in agricultural program/project. Whatsapp is suitable for communicating market situation/agricultural commodity price (56.7%)  and  best soil for different agricultural practices (53.6%) .  Respondents  also indicated reduction of cost of communicating information in agriculture ( =1.81), increased access to useful agricultural information ( =1.79) and covering lapses of high farmer-extension ratio  ( =1.77)  as major benefits of  using social media in agriculture .The study concluded that many social media resources were not used  by the extension personnel   and  hence were not considered  as suitable for  communicating specific agricultural information. Government and network providers should therefore sponsor workshop that will expose extension personnel and other   stakeholders in agriculture especially farmers to information communication technology tools like social media  so that more benefit  of social media can be reaped in extension work and agriculture.