UTILISATION OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR MAIZE DISEASE MANAGEMENT BY MALE AND FEMALE FARMERS IN SOUTHWESTERN, NIGERIA- AN EX-ANTE APPROACH

Abstract

Studies have shown that digitalisation will change the agri-food chain, and the use of digital technologies will help diagnose and prevent losses due to crop diseases. However, some digital technologies are pushed to potential users. The study analysed male and female farmers’ use of digital technologies for the management of maize diseases using an ex-ante approach. This refers to a method used to make informed decisions or predictions about the outcomes of using digital technologies for maize disease management. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 456 maize farmers for the study. An electronic interview schedule (Kobo Collect) was used to collect the quantitative data from the respondents. Percentages, mean, and standard deviation were used to describe and summarise the data. Results show that the majority (79%) of male and (63.5%) female farmers were aware of the use of digital technology in agriculture. The majority of male and female farmers (83% and 84.6%), respectively have used the WhatsApp digital platform. There was variation in the male and female farmers’ knowledge of WhatsApp as revealed by their mean score (3.46 ± 1.52 and 3.15 ±.1.65 respectively. The male farmers (87.3%) had a high response, and about (58%) of female farmers had a low response to digital technologies usage for maize disease management. Male farmers possessed more economic and social power than the female farmers. Hence, it is predicted that male farmers will respond to digitalisation by substitution, while female farmers will respond by adding digitalisation to conventional maize disease management. Strategic efforts should be made on capacity-building programs on various digital tools that are related to agriculture, as this could bridge the gender gap and enhance quick access to information on available innovations in agriculture.