INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES’ USE PROFICIENCY AND THE POULTRY WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF FARMERS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICT) represent a veritable tool for developing farmers’ capacities in resource optimization and sanitation for environmental protection. Poultry farmers' proficiency in ICT use for facilitating eco-friendly waste management in line with the sustainable development goal of clean water and sanitation was evaluated. A random survey (n = 120) of the members of four major poultry farmer groups in Ibadan metropolis was done for data collection. A validated interview schedule was used for data collection. Data analysis entailed descriptive and regression analyses for hypothesis testing. Results show that the poultry farmers, predominantly males, were more proficient in using social media and online videos. Only one-fifth of them explored ICT for waste management purposes, while 15.4% and 15.9% used it for learning safe disposal and handling methods. An average of 17% and 16.6% of the respondents disposed of their poultry wastes through open dumping and dug pits, respectively. Farmers’ exploration of ICT for learning about waste management purposes was significantly related to their proficiency in ICT usage (F = 63.4 at P≤0.001). Low level of ICT use proficiency is responsible for its limited exploration as a transformative panacea to the continued use of objectionable waste management practices in Nigeria. Specialized training sessions aimed at improving poultry farmers’ ICT knowledge and skills, thus enhancing their ICT use proficiency, should be implemented by the state Agricultural Development Program or any intervention initiative.

Keywords: Clean Water and Sanitation, ICT, Sustainable Development Goals, Poultry Wastes, Waste Disposal