Perceived potential of web2.0 technologies in agriculture among agricultural students in tertiary institutions of Osun state, Nigeria

Abstract

Web2.0 has put together viable ICT tools via internet operation for the development of Agriculture with little or no documentation of its potential uses. This study assessed the perceived potential of Web2.0 technologies in agriculture among agricultural students in tertiary institutions of Osun State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to select 360 agricultural students for the study. Data were collected using questionnaire and analyzed using appropriate descriptive statistics. The results revealed that over 50 percent of the respondents used Facebook, Whatsapp, YouTube, BBM, Google plus, Instagram, Twitter and Blogs. In addition, (many 67.5%) had high knowledge level of Web2.0 technologies. Furthermore, over 50 percent of the respondents perceived at least three of Facebook, Whatsapp, YouTube, BBM, Google plus, Instagram, Twitter, Blogs and skype as having potentials for dissemination of agricultural innovations to farmers; connect farmers with market for their produce; advertise agricultural produce; receive feedbacks from farmers; boost social interactions among stakeholders; teach agriculture to the children; and organize online meetings among agricultural stakeholders. It was concluded that the agricultural students, being future experts in agriculture, were conversant with the use of Web2.0 technologies as potential tools to further develop agriculture in Nigeria.

Keywords: Perceived potential, Web2.0, Agricultural Students, Farmers