Competencies of agricultural extension agents in the use of internet for extension delivery in the Eastern Region, Ghana

Abstract

Internet has been introduced by Ministry of Food and Agriculture to improve extension delivery in Ghana. However the extent to which extension agents have acquired the knowledge and skills to use it was not known in Eastern Region. The study assessed competencies of agricultural extension agents to use Internet in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The study used descriptive survey design, stratified proportional sampling technique and validated questionnaire to collect data from 217 AEAs in ten districts of Eastern Region. Statistical tools such as frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation, appropriate correlation coefficients were generated to describe or identify relationships among variables of the study. The study revealed that age, educational level, marital status, rank, location, years of experience, monthly salary, duration of use, years of using Internet, and training of AEAs relate significantly to Internet competencies of AEAs. The AEAs used the Internet for extension delivery by sending and receiving e-mails, accessing pay slips, searching for information on agriculture reading agricultural news and chatting with colleagues. The overall Internet competency of AEAs was moderate. The best predictors of Internet competencies of AEAs were training, location, duration of use, age and educational level. The study recommends among others the need for MoFA to organize in-service training on Internet since AEAs have positive attitude to use Internet but low to moderate knowledge and skills. Furthermore, specialized mobile phones and tablets that can access Internet easily should be procured for AEAs.