Volume 62, Issue 342, September - December 2026

Access and Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among Cassava Value Chain Actors in South-East Nigeria

Okwor Uchechi Mercy^1♦, Agwu Ekwe Agwu², Anugwa Ifeoma Q³

¹Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo state, Nigeria
²Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
³Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding Author
Okwor Uchechi Mercy, Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo state, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study examined the access and use of information and communication technology among cassava value chain actors in South East, Nigeria. Data from 120 cassava value chain actors was obtained and analysed using frequencies, percentage, mean, factor analysis and t-test. Input suppliers had access to cell phone (M=2.88), smart phone (M=1.71), radio (M=1.62) and television (M=1.92). Farmers had access to cell phone (M=2.75), radio (M=1.83) and television (M=2.04). Marketers had access to cell phone (M=2.83) and television (M=1.50). Processors had access to cell phone (M=2.50), smart phone (M=1.54), radio (M=1.67), television (M=2.25) and cd/dvd (M=1.83). Consumers had access to cell phone (M=2.88), smart phone (M=1.58), radio (M=2.21), television (M=2.25) and cd/dvd (M=1.75). Consumers (87.5%), input suppliers (58.3%), marketers (45.8%), farmers (20.8%) and processors (20.8%) used ICTs for sourcing information on cassava value chain activities. Both males (M=5.01, SD=7.548) and females (M=5.00, SD= 7.505) considered ICT use effective and there was no significant difference (t=0.352, df (118), p ≥0.725, two tailed test). Challenges to access and use of ICT by cassava value chain actors were categorized under human capacity, content and technical capacity using factor analysis. The study recommended that extension agents should make use of a variety of ICT tools in disseminating relevant and timely information to actors in the cassava value chain.

Keywords: ICT, cassava value chain, actors, access, use

Discovery, 2026, 62, e29d3329

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Published: 07 October 2026