Proclivity to use interactive voice response as information and communication technology tool for extension service delivery in Lagos state, Nigeria

Abstract

The Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system is an automated telephone technology that employs a computer-generated voice to engage callers' input. It holds significant global recognition as a potent Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tool, particularly in facilitating communication between farmers and extension service providers worldwide. In Nigeria, despite the notable deficit in extension agent-farmer interaction, IVR as an alternative for extension service delivery remains largely unused. Thus, extension agents’ proclivity to use interactive voice response as an ICT tool for extension service delivery was investigated. Using multistage sampling procedure, a total of 97 Extension Agents (EAs) were used as samples for the study. Data were analysed using percentages, means and Pearson’s product moment correlation at ?_0.05. Respondents’ age was 46±0.91 years, the majority were married (80.4%), had Bachelor’s degrees (53.6%) with professional experience of 13.7±8.2 years, and were mainly in the senior cadre (46.4%). Airtel was the primary service provider for internet connection of IVR ( =1.60). A larger (51.5%) proportion of the respondents had a favourable perception towards IVR use in Extension Service Delivery (ESD) and the IVR perceived benefits were high for 60.8% of the EAs. More than half of the EAs expressed high proclivity to use IVR. Respondents’ age (r= -0.156) and years of experience (r= 0.262). were significantly related to proclivity to IVR. A significant relationship existed between respondents’ perception and proclivity to use IVR (r = 0.424). Extension agents in Lagos State showed a positive inclination toward using IVR for extension delivery systems. To harness its benefits, stakeholders should prioritise IVR integration to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of agricultural extension services, fostering better outcomes for farmers.