EXPLORING THE ADOPTION AND USE OF ICTS FOR MARKET INFORMATION ACCESS AMONG SMALLHOLDER SOYBEAN FARMERS IN KUJE AREA COUNCIL, ABUJA, NIGERIA

The increasing importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in agricultural marketing has prompted significant interest in understanding their adoption among smallholder farmers. This study examined the adoption and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for accessing market information among smallholder soybean farmers in Kuje Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 100 respondents across five wards and villages. Data were collected using structured questionnaires complemented with interview schedules. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages, means and Likert scale were used to analyzed the data. Findings revealed that the majority of soybean farmers were middle-aged, male, and married, with varied educational levels and farm sizes, indicating an experienced farming population. ICT use yielded significant benefits such as increased income (74%), valuable market information (71%), reduced reliance on middlemen (71%) and better understanding of market demands (68%). However, major constraints included the high cost of internet data (X ̅ = 3.09) and devices (X ̅ = 3.03) and inadequate training (X ̅ = 3.01). The most recommended strategies for ICT adoption were the provision of affordable devices and data (85%), training and capacity building (82%) and localized relevant content (78%). The study concludes that although ICTs offer substantial benefits in market access, their potential remains underutilized due to systemic and infrastructural challenges. The study therefore recommends, coordinated interventions by government, telecom providers, extension agents and cooperatives to scale ICT access and capacity to  improve market outcomes for smallholder soybean farmers in the study area.