Adoption and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by agricultural research institutions in information dissemination: A case study of Zimbabwe (original) (raw)
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A Development Approach for Successful Adoption of Information Technology in Agriculture
-Agriculture is becoming knowledge concentrated because of the need to participate in internationally viable markets. There is an increase in obstacles and restrictions in accessing agricultural inputs, due to need to use regular resources to sustainably cope with the growing threats from varied climatic instabilities, we require new knowledge as the most critical resource for agriculture development. Information and Communication Management and use of appropriate ICT tools or institutions improve agriculture research through sharing and exchange of information and managing research. It rapidly improves agriculture and benefits farmers.In this paper the researcher will employee extensive document analysis methodology to look at ICT used in agriculture, ICT adoption, and the role of ICT in agriculture, ICT as decision support system, how ICT is used to expand the marketplace, how ICT is applied, current state and future needs of ICT in agriculture and a detailed literature on various ICT used in agriculture, development route taken to adopt ICT, agriculture extension, advisory and education and the migration process involved to full using ICT.I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ICT plays a pivotal role as a catalyst and change agent in agriculture. Information and Communication Management and use of appropriate ICT tools or institutions improve agriculture research through sharing and exchange of information and managing research. It rapidly improves agriculture and benefits farmers. We explore the value of ICT and approach of development that could be adopted in order to harness the benefits that these technologies can bring to farmers and organizations in agriculture. A. Valuable ICT for Agriculture The source of information is majorly: extension agents, radio and television, mobile phones, video programs, and internet. In addition, the costs of mobile phones and air time, electricity, phone support services, internet services, radio and television network services, and literacy of marketers significantly influence the use of ICT.[1] The use of mobile phones should be encouraged for distributing information and infrastructure should be improved.[1] B. ICT Adoption In Agriculture In this paper will try to discourse of the recent adoption of ICT for agriculture for effective production of agriculture products and promotion of linkages between manufacturers and customers. The adoption of agriculture practices and its application technology has expanded. [2] Up to the present time, a number of agriculture products producer cooperatives and companies are serving more than a million clients. This provides a clear view of the remunerations, encounters and limitations of ICT and the progress in farmers' development.ICT is important for agriculture development and requires a long-term effort for its development.[2] However, ICT and other technology for farming development are limited due to the instability of the Horn of Africa.[2] ICT use has increased especially in terms of use of farmer mobile phones for communication anda few other applications. Expanding use of ICT has moved forward in the last two decades forfarmers, although there has been inadequate provision of communication materials in training andmobilization sessions in most development projects.[2]successfully efforts has been made towards effective use of ICT i.e.telephone, facsimile/fax, computers, computer networks, Internet, cellular telephony, digital audio and video devices. ICT adoption for
JOURNAL OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIVE RESEARCH , 2018
In the present century, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has found multiple applications in the field of agriculture. In fact, the use of ICT in agriculture has established itself as an important pillar for the effective delivery of extension services owing to its cost-effective, time-effective, and speedy dissemination of information to farmers. This is especially true for the complex Indian agricultural scenario which is still riddled by problems such as small land holdings, absence of sound marketing facilities, scarcity of capital, poor connectivity, erratic and delayed information to the farmers, non-adoption or a lesser amount of adoption of improved technology, among others. It is seen that ICT has tremendous potential for application in agricultural extension. E-Agriculture initiatives like Agrisnet, Digital Green, eSagu, Agmarknet, iKisan, Digital Mandi, e-Arik, aqua, Fisher Friend Programme (FFP), are but a few examples of ICT services that have taken the agricultural scenario by storm. Recent developments of ICT have facilitated flow of information to various stakeholders in agriculture, especially farmers; however, factors such as lack of awareness, not enough ICT infrastructure, non-strategic location of information centers, and lackluster attitude towards ICT use continue to inhibit the potential of ICT for agricultural development. Moreover, there is a burning concern that most of the e-Agriculture projects in India are seen to have been implemented in the socioeconomically developed states of northern and southern India while the disadvantaged states continue to be technology deprived. This is especially true of the northeastern states of India, namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, where agricultural development is still in its most primitive stages. Here, the use of ICT is still limited to medium such as Television, Radio, and mobile phones. Thus, there is a need to look closely at the factors that govern the use of ICT in this region of the country. This paper makes an attempt to study the same.
2010
This paper investigates the provision of agricultural information to small scale farmers in Zimbabwe. It seeks to find out the methods and means of disseminating agricultural information to the small scale farmers in Harare, Zimbabwe. Describes how Information and Communication Technology has impacted on the dissemination of agricultural information. Explains how I.C.T's are impacting on agricultural production among small scale farmers in Zimbabwe. Describes the extent to which information provision is utilised in promoting dissemination of agricultural information to small scale farmers. Highlights the challenges the farmers face with regards to access to agricultural information. Considers how the digital divide affects information dissemination considering the challenges of connectivity in emerging economies. Mentions the current ICT driven projects aimed at facilitating access to agricultural information to farmers.The roles of libraries, schools, and agricultural research extension (AREX) services in providing agricultural information towards sustaining agriculture are described. The use of alternative media like radio, television, and podcasting to disseminate agricultural information the challenges of using such media to communicate agricultural information information to small scale farmers are mentioned.
ICT in Agricultural Development
IGI Global eBooks, 2012
The transformational role of ICT in the social and economic spheres of man engendered development of the communication technology in Nigeria. Based on the telecom deregulation policy of the Nigerian Government in 2001, the country witnessed an upsurge of private investment in ICT development and its consequential ICT revolution. An empirical survey of diffusion and adoption pattern of ICT in the Nigerian agricultural system showed that mobile phone constitutes the most widely adopted ICT device by the agricultural researchers, extension agents, and rural farmers. In addition to this was computer and internet adoption by the researchers and radio transistors by the rural farmers. All eight agricultural research organisations and four extension agencies surveyed had electronic mail addresses and telephone lines for information exchanges. Six of the agricultural organisations-CRIN, FRIN, NIHORT, IAR&T, NIOMR, and NAERLS, and one of the extension agencies-LSADA, had organisational websites for hoisting generated agricultural information. Based on rural farmers' access to radio, and to some extent television, the research and extension organisations aired agricultural programmes on these electronic media for the farmers. ICT usage in the Nigerian agricultural system is however challenged by less development and exploration of communication technologies, poor electric power supply, and poor human operational skills development for effective utilisation of the information-driven technologies. This situation thus necessitates the need for pro-agriculture ICT development and human capacity for effective utilisation in the Nigerian agricultural system.
Information Technology for Development, 2014
Studies have shown that any information and communication technology (ICT) intervention that improves the livelihoods of poor rural families is likely to have a significant impact (direct and indirect) on enhancing agricultural production, marketing, and post-harvest activities. Notable ICT services include: online information services; communication between researchers, extension (knowledge) workers, and farmers; updates on current market information; weather forecasting; input supplies; and credit availability. The lack of up-todate ICTs can negatively affect information access and utilization among information users. The study sought to investigate the levels of ICT access and utilization by researchers and extension workers within the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development and how this affected the generation and dissemination of agricultural information among researchers and extension workers. Survey questionnaires were distributed to researchers at the various institutes in the five agro-ecological zones and to extension workers in 10 provinces. The study revealed that the role of ICTs in work and as an information channel was considered inadequate despite the indications by the majority of extension workers and researchers that they had access to ICTs. Findings on the utilization of ICTs in managing information generated by the Departments of Research and Specialist Services and Agricultural Technical and Extension Services revealed that while some ICTs were used to generate documents, most distribution of documents involved hard copies. Available ICTs included computers, printers, telephones, television, Internet, mobile phones, and fax machines, and these were considered effective in the dissemination of agricultural information, although the levels of effectiveness varied according to the resources and respondents.
The Challenges of Utilizing Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Agriculture Extension
International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, 2015
The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in agriculture and rural development has surged in the past decade. Growing attention has focused on the contributions of these technologies to agriculture and rural development. ICT includes computers and communication technology along with associated software. The activities of generating, processing, transmitting, disseminating, sorting, archiving and retrieving information constitute the information industry. Innovation in ICT to an increase agriculture production and helps farmer’s in decision making in growth of their crops. ICTs have the potential to reach many farmers with timely and accessible content. But the content that the ICTs deliver has more relevance if it is localized and context specific, as this improves the value and action ability of the information, which can have important impacts on farm management. In this paper covered challenges of utilizing ICT in agriculture extension, as ICT took initiate man...
Research in Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries
The purposes of the study were to determine the extent of use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by the farmers in receiving agricultural information in Homnaupazilla under comilla district and to explore the contribution of selected characteristics of respondents with their ICTs use in receiving agricultural information. The study was conducted in two villages namely Rampur & Madhabpur of Ghagutia union in Homnaupazilla of comilla district. Data were collected from 110 farmers by using a pre-tested interview schedule during the period from 15 January to 15 March, 2015. Appropriate scales were developed to measure the variables of the study. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression (B) tests were used for analysis. The findings revealed that highest proportion (64.5%) of the respondents’ had medium use of ICTs in receiving agricultural information compared to 13.6 % and 21.8 % having low and high use of ICTs in receiving agricultural information respectively. Ed...
Access and Usage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to Accelerate Farmers' Income
Journal of Community Mobilization and Sustainable Development, 2019
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the resultant output of all modes of transmission like electronic devices, networks, mobiles, services and applications which help to disseminate information immediately and effectively. Timely availability and accurate information has proved very crucial in identifying and mitigating pest and disease prevalence, drought management and also knowing proper market for proper price. ICT has now become a reliable instrument to achieve this goal in India. Although ICT have escalated the living standard of Indian farmers and made them ICT-friendly which has resulted in increased penetration of useful information about crops husbandry as well as animal production, but rural India has yet to achieve full swing towards usage of ICT by the common farmers. The present study is an attempt to explore the status of access and usage of ICT, and perceived constraints towards utilisation of this new but challenging opportunity. The data from 100 farmers interviewed from selected villages of Dhenkanal district of Odisha through a structured schedule revealed that although they have access to the ICT tools but those tools are mostly used to get benefit of general communication and entertainment purpose and less for marketing and other productive purpose. The study suggests developing awareness and skill of the farmers to use ICT tools for their farming benefits.
Currently agricultural sector is the main sector of the economy in Ethiopia. Information and communication technologies (ICT) have been changing the way that actors like researchers, development agents, policy makers, and farmers share agricultural information and knowledge. Particularly, farmers have started to use ICT to get agricultural information and knowledge, despite a number of challenges. Therefore, this study attempted to analyze socioeconomic factors affecting the use of information and communication technologies among farmers in Central Highlands of Ethiopia. Data were collected (n=120) from 120 randomly selected respondents from Tole District, of which 55 were ICT user farmers and 65 of them were non users of ICT. In the study Econometric model (binary logit) was used to analyze data. Qualitative data were analyzed through interpretation, narration, and finally complement the econometric analysis. This study identifies social, economic and institutional factors as the major factors affecting the use of ICT among farmers in the study area. The survey results revealed that age, sex, education status and distance from nearby market have influence on use of ICT in agricultural extension among farmers. The findings also revealed that High cost of ICT tools, lack of electricity, lack of fund, lack of ICTs use training, Lack of ICTs use awareness, poor infrastructure, less extension support, lack of agricultural information and unavailable on time were the major constraints that faced majority of both users and non users of ICT while using ICTs in agricultural extension. The study recommends concerned stakeholders and partners found at different levels should attempt to address those factors influencing the use of ICT among farmers. This study recommends that policymakers at different levels should recognize that farmers are using ICT in addition to traditional ICT like radio and TV. Hence, this fact should be taken as an input for policy formation of ICT in agriculture and rural development in particular and for its usability among farmers.