23 Pgs., Information and Communication Technology is a potent force in the developing world for social, economic and educational transformation of individuals, agencies and institutions. This study examined the veritable roles of ICT in empowering rural women farmers in Rivers State. The specific objectives were to examine the demographic characteristics of the respondents, identify ICT devices in use by the respondents; information needs of the respondents, the roles of ICTs in rural women empowerment and constraints to the use of ICT devices by the respondents. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from respondents and oral interview where necessary. The respondents were 120 rural women farmers purposively selected from the farmers list obtained from the ADP (Agricultural Development Project) Office in the Area. The results indicate that 54.2% of the respondents are married, 57.5% with secondary education, 52.5% hold a farm size of 0.25 – 1 hectare of land. ICT devices in use include mobile phones, television, radio and other devices. They need information on inputs, prices, markets, produce demand, new practices and technologies. ICT play various roles in empowering the women such as offering entrepreneurial opportunity, breaking isolation, providing linkages to inputs and markets, assisting small and medium size business, reducing poverty, and illiteracy and improving income and savings of rural women. The problems affecting use of ICT devices include absence and erratic supply of electricity, lack of ICT skills, low level of awareness etc. Government should provide basic amenities to the rural dwellers to improve their socio-economic well-being.
Alpmann, Jan (author), Bitsch, Vera (author), and Technical University of Munich, Chair Group Economics of Horticulture and Landscaping, Alte Akademie 16, Freising, Germany
Technical University of Munich, Chair Economics of Horticulture and Landscaping, Alte Akademie 16, Freising, Germany
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2017-01
Published:
Germany: Elsevier Ltd.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 162 Document Number: D08106
Cunningham, Saul A. (author) and CSIRO, Land and Water, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Fenner School for Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2017-02
Published:
Australia: Blackwell Publishing
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 162 Document Number: D08137
Fiore, Mariantonietta (author), Silvestri, Raffaele (author), Contò, Francesco (author), Pellegrini, Giustina (author), and Department of Economics, University of Foggia, Largo Papa Giovanni Paolo II, 1, Foggia, Italy
Department of Economic Science, University of Bari, Largo Abbazia Santa Scolastica 53, Bari, Italy
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2017-01-20
Published:
Italy: Elsevier Ltd.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 162 Document Number: D08100
