The use of modern information and communication technologies in smallholder agriculture Examples from Kenya and Tanzania. (original) (raw)
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Access by smallholder farmers to markets has traditionally been constrained by lack of market information. Yet progress in smallholder agriculture is inconceivable without greater market participation. The desire to strengthen farmer access to market has thus resulted in the emergence of many agricultural projects that use Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in developing countries over the last decade. These technologies focus on providing market information services (MIS) to farmers. This study uses regression techniques and data collected from 379 smallholder farmers in Kenya to examine the conditioners of awareness and use of ICT-based MIS. The study finds that transaction costs, the characteristics of the area in which ICT-based projects are implemented and farmer endowments with human and financial capital play an important role in smallholder farmers' awareness, use and/or extent of use of ICT-based MIS projects. It concludes that awareness and the use of ICT-based MIS is driven by farmer, farm and location-specific characteristics as well as various capital endowment factors. The study discusses the implications of these findings for policy and practice.
The present study was carried out to investigate on the contribution of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) towards agricultural information access among smallholder farmers. The study employed a cross-sectional research design to survey a total of 120 randomly selected household heads from 10 villages in Bembeke Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Dedza District, Malawi. The main data collecting instruments were semi-structured questionnaire and key informant interviews. Findings showed that the surveyed smallholder farmers had limited access to relevant and accurate information that would help them to boost their agricultural production and marketing of farm produce. This was shown by a significant percentage of the respondents who relied on their own previous experience or fellow farmers and extension officers as means of providing access to most of agriculture related information. A small percentage of respondents accessed agricultural information through radio, TV and mobile phones, which were the only ICT tools used. Some of the factors that affect the choice and use of ICT tools amongst respondents were high costs of acquiring the tools and poor enabling infrastructures. The study thus recommends that the Government through the relevant ministry should create awareness to smallholder farmers on the importance of accessing current agricultural information from credible sources and the opportunities that ICTs offer for timely access to information. Moreover, the Government should create an enabling environment for the growth of ICT industry and scale out the establishment of rural tele-centres, among other recommendations.
The intent of this exploratory observational study was to ascertain the knowledge, experience, and attitudes of Malawian smallholder farmers regarding information and communication technology (ICT). This would establish a foundation for proposing ways in which ICT could best be used to provide information encouraging improved agricultural practices. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its economy is primarily dependent on agriculture, and the bulk of its food supply is produced by smallholder farmers. Non-government organizations such as NASFAM have been working with various international aid donors to improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers. The literature review revealed that there had been almost no studies of the farmers themselves regarding their perceived needs for more information, so an interview guide was designed to elicit this basic information. This study reveals that while most Malawian smallholder farmers are literate, they have only minimal knowledge of ICT and a very limited concept of how it might be useful in improving their farming and marketing practices. The research also indicated that the farmers need more sources for financing their operations. The concluding chapter lists efforts that should be undertaken by the Malawian government and non-government organizations in order to maximize the benefits of ICTs for the smallholder agricultural sector.
Farmers continuously gather new information to keep up with the emerging trends and technologies, and they also store and share this knowledge. e agricultural system in Kenya includes multiple sources available for the farmers as well as a wide range of ICT (information and communications technology)-based innovations for knowledge acquisition. is study investigated farmers' access to different sources of knowledge as well as ICT through a comparative assessment between peri-urban and rural settings, and found that setting and information needs are major influences on sources used. Despite the huge emphasis placed on the need to use ICTs to facilitate information access among smallholder farmers, the adoption levels of these technologies is still very low. is is largely due to lack of information about the existence of such technologies, and there is a need to create awareness about the ICT-based innovations and the potential they have for addressing the challenge of information access among farmers.
Emerging ICTs and Their Potential in Revitalizing Small-Scale Agriculture in Africa
Agricultural Information Worldwide, 2009
Agriculture plays a vital role in the social and economic development of most African countries and is the main contributor to economic growth and stability. Small-scale agriculture and the harvesting of natural resources provide livelihoods for over 70% of the African population. However, most smallholders are resource-poor and face many challenges. Modern information and communication technologies (ICTs) have the potential to increase agricultural productivity through communicating knowledge and information to rural agricultural communities, providing capacity building, accessing markets and credit, restructuring of extension and scaling up inter-linkages of development interventions. This paper is based on an IDRC scoping study conducted in 2007 on ICTs and small scale agriculture in Africa, which was carried out through a desk study, field observations, individual and group interviews in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. The paper points out the potential of emerging ICTs in efforts aimed at dealing with some of the challenges small-scale farmers face. Findings suggest that the FM radio stations and the cellular phone have become important tools in improving small-scale agriculture in rural areas. The internet, web-sites and web-based applications are becoming increasingly important in sharing and disseminating agricultural information and knowledge and marketing of goods and services. Other emerging ICT applications for small-scale agriculture include radio frequency identification technology (RFID), market information systems, geographic information systems (GIS), precision agriculture and public access facilities. The study also established that low usage levels of these technologies is the result of low technical capacity and limited ICT infrastructure in the sector, especially in rural areas.
Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology
Agricultural extension is a communication network linking different stakeholders in agriculture to improve their productivity and Information Communication Technology (ICT) has been utilised as an extension tool for enhancing information flow between agricultural extension services and their clients. The application of ICT in agricultural extension and rural development has significantly increased in several countries where it has provided an adequate access to agricultural information. Efforts are, therefore, needed to scale up investments in physical ICT infrastructure and services across developing country. This could be realised through the implementation of interventions aimed at speeding up assimilation and adoption of improved agricultural technology and management practices of the less productive smallholder farmers. Drawing on relevant published works, this paper argues that agricultural knowledge and information management within an extension system can improve productivit...
International Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, 2018
Mainstreaming information and communication technologies (ICTs) into the productive economic sectors has the potential of enhancing productivity of those sectors. In agriculture, there are emerging empirical evidence of how ICTs are helping farmers especially the small holder farmers to access agricultural resources to improve their economic activities. However, in developing countries, especially Africa the integration of ICTs into agriculture has not been effective due to a number of challenges. The study investigated the barriers that hinders the effective use of ICT in farming in Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Simple random, purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used in selecting 150 small scale farmers for the study. Semi structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from the respondents. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The study revealed that majority of the small scale farmers have some level of education. The study also identified radio and mobile phones as the most common ICT tools used by small scale farmers. Three main barriers that hinders the effective usage of ICT namely attitudinal, accessibility and technical were identified by the study.
Technology, Sustainability, and Rural Development in Africa
This paper presents a framework of the evolution of information and communication technology (ICT) applications in agriculture and rural development based on comparative experiences of South Africa and Kenya. The framework posits that full deployment of ICT in agriculture and rural development will be a culmination of several phases of changes that starts with e-government policy design, development and implementation. The paper argues that ICT use in agriculture and rural development is a powerful instrument for improving agricultural and rural development and standards of living throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. However, success in greater application of ICT in agriculture will require addressing impediments to adoption and diffusion. Such impediments include the lack of awareness, low literacy, infrastructure deficiencies (e.g. lack of electricity to charge electronic gadgets), language and cultural barriers in ICT usage, the low e-inclusivity and the need to cater for the special n...
This paper examines how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are being used to facilitate decision making in agricultural sector among small scale farmers in Kenya. The use of ICTs in agriculture has ignited much interest over the past decade. To take advantage of the rapid expansion of ICTs in developing countries, the agricultural sector is increasingly turning its attention to ICTs in making decision of agricultural produce, pricing, promotion and distribution of farm produce. Nevertheless, most African countries have not yet devoted adequate attention in providing their citizens with the necessary access to information, especially in rural areas, where 70-80% of the African population lives. The paper reviews literature on ICTs and marketing decisions of farmers. It is argued that ICTs have a significant effect on the viable marketing decisions of small scale farmers in Kenya.
Tel: +254 733 223 635/+254 722 865 021 ABSTRACT This paper examines how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are being used to facilitate decision making in agricultural sector among small scale farmers in Kenya. The use of ICTs in agriculture has ignited much interest over the past decade. To take advantage of the rapid expansion of ICTs in developing countries, the agricultural sector is increasingly turning its attention to ICTs in making decision of agricultural produce, pricing, promotion and distribution of farm produce. Nevertheless, most African countries have not yet devoted adequate attention in providing their citizens with the necessary access to information, especially in rural areas, where 70-80% of the African population lives. The paper reviews literature on ICTs and marketing decisions of farmers. It is argued that ICTs have a significant effect on the viable marketing decisions of small scale farmers in Kenya. The discussion is based on secondary data: therefore, an empirical study is needed to be carried out in order to establish the actual influence of ICTs on marketing decisions of small farmers in order to inform the ICT policy in Kenya.