Effect of Adoption and Usage of Icts on Small Scale Agribusiness Entrepreneurs in Umuahia Metropolis, Abia State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT
The study investigated the factors influencing adoption and usage of emerging ICTs among agribusiness enterprises in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia state, The specific objectives of the study were to: examine the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area; ascertain the type of agribusiness/farming enterprises engaged in by the respondents in the study area; examine the respondents’ awareness of ICT facilities in the study area, ascertain respondents’ level of access to ICT facilities in the study area, access the use or importance of ICT facilities by the respondents in the study area, examine the extent to which ICT s have been utilized by the respondents in the development of agribusiness enterprises in the study area and determine the level of adoption of ICT facilities by the agribusiness entrepreneurs in the study areas. Descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least square were employed to analyze data obtained. Result showed that majority of the agribusiness entrepreneurs were males who were young and married. Majority of the respondents engaged in crop production. Radio, computer, mobile phone, TV and internet facilities were the major ICT facilities the agribusiness entrepreneurs were aware of in the study area. Access and use level of ICT facilities by the respondents was low. Age, household size, educational level, income, farming experience, cooperative membership and access to credit were the factors influencing level of adoption of ICT facilities in the study area. The study therefore recommends that government should provide infrastructural facilities such as constant electricity, good roads pipe born water, health facilities and modern farm facilities to enable farmers utilize ICTs.