Socio-Economic Factors Influencing the Utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) among SmallScale Pepper Growers in Kano and Kaduna States, Nigeria.

This work evaluated the socio-economic factors influencing the utilization of information and communication technologies (ICTS) among small-scale pepper growers in Kano and Kaduna States, Nigeria. A simple random sampling approach was utilized to select and collect primary data from 200 pepper growers within the two states using a well-structured questionnaire. The tools used for data analysis are Probit dichotomous regression model (PDRM), Kendall's coefficient of concordance (W), and the t-Test of difference between means. The findings from this study indicated that pepper cultivation is a profitable enterprise, with significant differences in revenue and cost of production (p < 0.05). The outcomes revealed that many of the farmer were male and middle aged (44 years), having 11 years of attending school education with farming experience approximately 11 years. The ICT tools that were most widely used were mobile phones, radio, and social media, used primarily to access market prices and weather forecasts. The maximum likelihood estimates showed that education level, farm size, and extension contact significantly affected ICTs utilization at 1% alpha level. The Kendall's analysis placed power supply instability, poor internet connectivity, and financial constraints as the most significant inhibitors to ICTs use. Pepper production remains economically viable but low ICTs utilization because of infrastructural and fiscal constraints affecting productivity. For furthering digital inclusion, policy should focus on rural power supply enhancement, extension of the internet, and empowerment of extension services. Special ICTs training and capital support programs are recommended to raise farmers' productivity and competitiveness in the market.