Use of Mobile Phones in Improving Livelihoods among Horticultural Farmers in Parts of Kaduna Northern Guinea Savannah Eco-zone: Empirical Study of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State

The study examined the use of mobile phones in improving the livelihoods of rural horticultural crop farmers in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Eighty (80) questionnaires were sampled among horticultural crop farmers who own and use mobile phones and seventy-six (76) questionnaires were retrieved. A multistage sampling technique was used in sampling the respondents. The data collected is analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The results showed that 46.05% are males and 53.95% are females, 26.32% were between 31-40 years, 55.26% were married and 52.63% had at least secondary education. Data further revealed that 52.63% have owned handsets for at least 4-6years and 56.58% obtained the sets from personal savings. Mobile phone usage improved the livelihood in reducing transport cost which was highlighted by 96.05% of the sampled farmers, reduced exploitation/low pricing by middlemen and improved income of producers (84.21%). It also enhanced interaction among rural horticultural crop farmers at different locations (92.11%). Poor network coverage (39.47%), poor power supply (19.74%) and theft/loss of handsets (10.53%) are the major constraints associated with mobile phone usage. The regression analysis showed significant relationship between age, household size, educational status and use of mobile phone (P<0.05) level of significance. Therefore, it is recommended that Federal Government should improve electricity supply to rural farm communities and provides economic incentives, such as tax deductions for imported equipment, for mobile service providers to expand their mobile service coverage in rural/horticultural production areas. Furthermore, the state and local government should improve rural electricity supply to enable rural horticultural crops farmers utilize the full potentials of mobile phones.