Performance of Farmers using Social Network in Advancing Agribusiness in Anambra State, Nigeria

The study examined the performance of farmers? using social network in advancing agribusiness in Anambra State, Nigeria. Specifically, it described the socio - economic characteristics of the respondents, determined the profitability of respondents using social network, market structure of the respondents and identified the challenges of respondents using social network in advancing agribusiness by the respondents. Multi - stage, purposive and simple random methods were used to select one hundred and sixty respondents for the study. Data were collected from primary source. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, enterprise budgeting and gini coefficient. From the result, findings on the socioeconomic characteristics showed that farmers are relatively young, energetic, are in computer age and able to use phone and other devices to advance agribusiness in their area and beyond for optimum profit. Farmers were educated, married and there is male dominance in the use of social network in advancing agribusiness in the study area. The profitability indicators such as gross margin, net marketing income, and net return on investment values of ? 91.046073.00, ?90, 337, 617.50 and 1.2 respectively showed that the use of social network in advancing agribusiness is a profitable venture. Gini - coefficient revealed a high level of income inequalities among the farmers. Lack of awareness, poor assessment of social network and costly charge of data when accessing the social network were perceived as the main constraints affecting agribusiness. Measures will be taken by appropriate authorities to reduce the tariff of data in accessing social network and service providers should of necessity improve their services to enable social network users to be effective.