Abstract:
There is a clear relationship between information, agriculture and progress. Progress in agriculture is based on information and information transfer. In the wake of the information age, national governments, international agencies, and research institutions are exploring ways by which the new communication technologies can contribute to transfer of agricultural information in an attempt to reduce the unit cost of extension services and to increase the level of coverage. Although the information and communication technologies (lCTs) are here with us, a significant number of farmers have made little use of this technology in accessing agricultural information. This translates into inadequate information transfer, considering that the extension agent/farmer ratio has continued to rise over time. In this study, factors influencing farmers’ adoption of 'lCTs in accessing agricultural information were examined using survey data from I6 administrative divisions of Nakuru District. Results indicate that farmers are well aware of and willing to adopt ICTs to revolutionize their access to agricultural information, but lack of government initiative, lack of resources, poor infrastructure and lack of knowledge on computer use are major impediments on the utilization of this technology. Investment in science, technology, infrastructure development, and promotion of education are some of the measures that would enhance adoption of lCTs in accessing agricultural information for sustainable agricultural development.
