EVALUATION OF TECHNOLOGIES USED TO ACCESS INFORMATION ON KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT
The study evaluated the technologies used by extension workers to access information on
Knowledge Management utilisation in agricultural extension services delivery in Northwestern
Nigeria. A sample size of 278 respondents was drawn from population of 1774 Extension
Workers. Structured questionnaire, Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and interview were used
for data collection. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed for the study. Three States
were purposively selected in the Northwestern Nigeria: Kaduna, Kano and Kebbi. All the
Agricultural Development Project (ADP) Zones were also purposively selected from the three
(3) States and the extension workers sampled through preliminary surveys using convenient and
non-probability sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, and participatory research approach
(PRA) were used as tools for analysis. The result of the study indicated that substantial number
of Extension Workers (28.78%) use a synthesised of participatory approaches to accessing
Information on Knowledge Management. On the pair wise ranking, technologies used as
channel of communication to access Agricultural Information on Knowledge Management, The
result revealed that, use of internet as channel of communication was more preferred compared
in turn with other technologies and ranked first on the list with a total of 264 in the matrix than
any other technology used and use phone to accessed agricultural information was less preferred
technology scored (43.5 points) and picture (55 points) respectively. The effective utilization of
KM in agricultural extension service will boost agricultural production and food security in
Northwest and Nigeria as a whole. It was recommended that training and re-training of
Extension Agents in Knowledge Management and ICT tool should be encouraged in Extension
organisations at all levels (Federal, State and Local Government) in order to improve
Agricultural Extension service delivery. In conclusion, until extension professional best utilised
Knowledge Management in agricultural extension service delivery to achieve success of
effective agricultural information dissemination to rural farmers in turn to increase agricultural
productivity and national food security in north-west Nigeria.