ISSN (Online): 2350-0530 International Journal of Research -GRANTHAALAYAH ISSN (Print): 2394-3629 January 2021, Vol 9(1), 339 – 350 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v9.i1.2021.3143 © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. 339 UNDERLYING FACTORS AFFECTING UTILIZATION OF COMPUTER – BASED INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES BY AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PERSONEL IN AKWA IBOM, NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA Akpabio Iniobong Aniefiok 1 , Glory Emmanuel Edet 2 , Joan Ekpo Cyril 3 *1, 2 Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria 3 Community and Social Development Project in Akwa Ibom StateUyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria DOI: https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v9.i1.2021.3143 Article Type: Research Article Article Citation: Akpabio Iniobong Aniefiok, Glory Emmanuel Edet, and Joan Ekpo Cyril. (2021). UNDERLYING FACTORS AFFECTING UTILIZATION OF COMPUTER – BASED INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES BY AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PERSONEL IN AKWA IBOM, NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA. International Journal of Research - GRANTHAALAYAH, 9(1), 399-350. https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaa layah.v9.i1.2021.3143 Received Date: 25 December 2021 Accepted Date: 31 January 2021 Keywords: Computer-Based Internet Technologies Utilization Underlying Factors Extension Personnel Akwa Ibom State ABSTRACT The study sought to examine factors affecting utilization of Computer Based Internet Technologies (CBIT) by extension personnel in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Relevant data were obtained from 180 respondents, while data analyses were achieved with the aid of descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Findings showed that 57.8 % of the respondents were male, 91.7% were married, with a mean age of 43years, while 62.8% respondents had no formal computer training. It was also revealed that, of the nine surveyed CBIT facilities and applications, only mobile phones were highly utilized, while I-pads/laptops and YouTube were the least utilized. It was also revealed that 62.8% respondents indicated that they had a low level of CBIT utilization, while level of CBIT utilisation was found to be influenced by financial, training, policy/personal barriers, social, technical and management factors. Results of tested hypotheses revealed that CBIT utilisation was not influenced by respondents’ personal characteristics, and no significant difference was observed in terms of level of CBIT utilization between field extension personnel (FEP) and supervisory extension personnel (SEP). It was concluded that extension personnel are constrained from using CBIT due to the prohibitive cost of CBIT software and maintenance, inappropriate infrastructure and lack of access to training opportunities. It is recommended, among others, that policy makers should facilitate the evolution of appropriate CBIT policies to enhance access to appropriate tools by extension personnel. 1. INTRODUCTION Agriculture in Nigeria, like other developing countries of the world is faced with several challenges such as; the urgent need to improve agricultural productivity, ability to participate more equitably in global agricultural markets and the sustainable use of increasingly scarce natural resources. Koyenikan and Omoregbee (2016, 417) have listed a congruence of researchers’ findings, to the effect that weak linkage between research, extension organizations, and farmers have become one of the most difficult institutional problems in most developing Nations, including Nigeria; and thereby constituting a major limiting factor to increased food productivity and sustainable development. In essence, strong linkage complimented by flawless information flow enhanced by the effective use of information and