Abstract
The increasing role of digital technologies in agricultural transformation necessitates understanding how extension personnel utilize ICT and social
media platforms for service delivery. This study examined the determinants of ICT and social media utilization by Village Extension Agents (VEAs)
in the Northern Agricultural Zone of Plateau State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 92 VEAs, and data were collected
with structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression models. Findings on socio-economic characteristics revealed
that the majority of VEAs were male (84%) and married (97%), with a mean age of 48 years, an average household size of 4 persons, mean work
experience of 20 years, and a mean monthly income of ₦218,962. All respondents possessed tertiary education, underscoring a highly educated
workforce. With respect to ICT use, phone calls (99%), SMS (74%), and WhatsApp (50%) were the most frequently adopted platforms, whereas
advanced digital tools such as email, Twitter, and Zoom/Google Meet recorded no utilization. Regression analysis indicated that age, educational
status, household size, and monthly income significantly influenced ICT and social media use, highlighting the role of socioeconomic factors in
digital adoption. The major constraints identified included limited institutional support (66%), poor internet connectivity (64%), and limited
awareness of available platforms (56%), alongside erratic power supply (54%). The study concludes that ICT and social media have significant
potential to enhance extension communication, but infrastructural, institutional, and awareness-related challenges impede their full integration into
extension systems. It recommends targeted digital literacy training, improved ICT infrastructure and rural electrification, supportive institutional
policies, and deliberate awareness creation on emerging platforms to strengthen VEAs’ capacity for effective, inclusive, and technology-driven
extension service delivery.
Keywords: Determinants, ICT, social media, utilization, village extension agents,
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