Proficiency in Digital Extension Service Delivery among Public Agricultural Extension Personnel in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined digital extension service delivery proficiency among public extension personnel in Imo State, Nigeria. A sample of 105 extension personnel selected from the Imo State ADP using a multistage sampling procedure participated in the study. Data were collected using a validated structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using mean and percentages. Results showed that the extension personnel was approaching retirement age (x̅ = 52.3 years), more males (51.4%), earned an average of about N72, 000 monthly and had worked for an average of 25.7 years. It was found that the extension personnel gained digital awareness mainly from local training organized by extension organizations (90.0%). The results revealed that the extension personnel had general digital awareness. It was further found that less than half (44.0%) of the personnel were at the foundation level while 41.0% were at the intermediate level of information, data and media literacy skills, more than half (53.0%) were at the foundation level of digital communication and collaboration skills while 42.0% were at the intermediate level in digital innovation and content creation skills. Also, the majority (81.0%) of the personnel were at the intermediate level in digital safety skills, more than half (53.3%) were at the foundation level in digital problem-solving and about half (51.0%) were at the foundation level in digital learning and development. The study concluded that the extension personnel were proficient at digital extension service delivery. The study recommended that capacity-building programmes should be organized by the extension organization to raise the digital proficiency of the extension personnel.