Abstract
This study examined the effect of mobile phone-based agricultural information services
on crop yield among smallholder farmers in Gwer West Local Government Area, Benue
State, Nigeria. Anchored on the Technology Acceptance Model, the study adopted a
descriptive survey design, drawing a sample of 154 smallholder farmers from which
143 valid responses were obtained, representing a 92.9% response rate. Data were
collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using frequency counts,
percentages, mean and standard deviation, with a criterion mean of 2.50 as the decision
benchmark. Findings revealed that respondents were predominantly middle-aged, male
and secondary-educated, operating farms of one to four hectares. Farmers accessed
mobile phone-based agricultural information services, particularly on improved seeds
and planting techniques, weather updates and pest and disease control, to a high extent
(cluster mean = 2.73). Results further showed that these services had a strong positive
effect on crop yield (cluster mean = 3.09), enhancing planting decisions, adoption of
improved practices and overall farm productivity. However, poor network coverage,
high data costs and limited digital skills emerged as significant constraints (cluster
mean = 3.05) limiting effective utilization. The study concludes that mobile phone-based
agricultural information services substantially improve crop yield among smallholder
farmers but recommends that telecommunications infrastructure be strengthened and
data costs reduced to maximize their benefits in the study area.
Keywords: Mobile phone-based agricultural information services, Crop yield,
Smallholder farmers, Gwer West, Benue State
Publication Date: 2026-10-31