INFORMATION ACQUISITION METHODS AND THEIR RELATION TO THE LEVEL OF EQUIPMENT OF A FARM IN INFORMATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENTS

All item flows are always accompanied by information flows. The condition of the goods flow between a sending point and a receipt point is exchange of information between a sender and a consignee. The role of scientific-technical and economic information in modern  agriculture grows successively. It is hard to imagine efficient management that would guarantee rational use of the factors of production, including respect for the environment, ensuring high quality of products and satisfaction of market requirements without it. Information is indispensable for both agricultural producers as well as producers and providers of production means and agricultural products consignees. Farms which strive to be competitive and which want to develop must use facilities of modern information technologies. The aim of the paper was to determine information acquisition methods and the relation to the level of equipment and the use of information infrastructure elements on commodity farms. The paper covered 50 agricultural farms located in the south Poland region. Information acquisition methods and the level of equipment and use of information infrastructure elements were determined. Respondents also evaluated which of the information acquisition methods was the best and which was the worst. It was concluded that the level of farm equipment in elements of information infrastructure was satisfactory and the information infrastructure methods guaranteed efficient farm management.

Use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools by rural famers in Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra, India

This study made an attitude assessment of farmers from the rural villages of Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra in the dissemination of agricultural information using Information and Communication technologies. A structured questionnaire and interviews were used to gather information on a number of aspects related to the use of ICT from randomly selected farmers from one Tehsil and key stakeholders (government officials and agricultural industry workers). Two different questionnaires were provided to farmers and key stakeholders. The questionnaire completed by the farmer participants sought general demographic data, education level and information concerning household income and their agricultural activities. Information related to the use of ICT tools in the agricultural sector such as kind of ICT tools, preference of ICT tools, source of getting information, belief on the sources of information, preferences for types of information and the frequency and timings of its delivery. The credibility and applicability of the information that farmers received, the kind of support that was available and their overall expectations from the use of ICT tools was recorded. Key stakeholders were also asked same questions related to demographic data, level of education and the use of ICT tools in the agricultural sector. Additional information concerning their job position, their work experience and what knowledge they required to improve their performance were also recorded. Additionally, stakeholders commented on the challenges that they face when accessing agricultural information and their opinion on improving information delivery. This paper will report on an examination of relationships between the usage of ICT tools and determining factors such as gender, land ownership and technology preference. Findings from this study will be used to develop a framework and system which may more effectively deliver agricultural information and assist farmers to make better decisions about their agricultural activities

Disseminating agricultural research information: a case study of farmers in Mlolo, Lupalama and Wenda villages in Iringa district, Tanzania

This study investigated the extent to which agricultural research information is disseminated to farmers. It was conducted in 2015 at Mlolo, Lupalama and Wenda  villages of Iringa district. Data were collected from 90 farmers using questionnaires, indepth interviews and focus group discussions. The study established that the extent of disseminating agricultural research information to farmers was low. The main types of agricultural research information disseminated to farmers included information on improved seed varieties, information on the use of fertilisers, information on crop management and information on pest management. On the hand, the barriers to farmers’ access to agricultural research information included inadequate numbers of extension officers, inadequate funding, inadequate sources of information, nonavailability of electricity, political interference and the absence of information centres. On the basis of these findings, the study calls for joint efforts aimed to increase the timely dissemination of agro-information to the farmers. In addition, there is a need to use researchers, religious leaders, and community-based organisations as key dissemination pathways to disseminate such information. The study further recommends for the need to repackage agricultural research information tailored towards meeting the farmers’ needs. Furthermore, the study urges the government to recruit more extension officers and station them in rural areas. Also, improving access to electricity in villages, allocation of more funds to agro-sector, prohibiting political interference in professional jobs and establishment of community based information centres could improve the availability, access to and use of agricultural research information

Determinants of Access and Use of ICT Based Sources of Market Information Amongst Finger Millet Farmers in Teso South, Kenya

In the traditional field of economics of information, marketing information is an important input to reduce the uncertainties faced by participants in the agricultural markets. In most developing countries, efforts have been directed towards improving farmers’ access to ICT based market information with an intention of providing requisite and real time market information to augment farmers’ access to input and output markets. This study analyses the quality of market information provided by radio and mobile phones and assesses the determinants of access and use of ICT based sources of market information amongst finger millet farmers in Teso South district. The results show that use of both mobile phone and radios as sources of market information is still low amongst the finger millet farmers (about one in four finger millet farmers uses ICT sources), thus transforming the market information system entirely into an ICT based system may preclude most farmers who are semi illiterate hence reliant on non ICT based sources of market information. Integration of both ICT based sources of market information and non-ICT sources is inevitable to ensure all the farmers are given the opportunity to access and use market information

Using Multimedia Campaign Approach to Improve Farmer Knowledge on Soybean Production: A Case of Selected States in Nigeria

Soybean is an important crop for human and animal consumption as well as industrial uses. It is a cheap plant food source that the low-income population in Nigeria depends on for protein and nutrient needs. However, there has been a decline in its production and productivity. To facilitate the transition to improved soybean productivity, multimedia campaigns were conducted to increase awareness of good agronomic practices and integrated soil fertility management approaches. The campaign used three elements; radio, print and video materials, to reach farmers in a complementary manner. This paper examines the implementation and effectiveness of the campaigns that were conducted in five (5) states in Nigeria in order to provide direction for future campaign endeavours in terms of participation by different stakeholders and how to fast track expected benefits to the farmers. This study established that the main source of information was the agricultural extension agents through face-to-face interactions, distribution of print materials and showing videos. Radio messages in local languages contributed to further increase in awareness. Farmers preferred to receive information from many sources and formats as it was perceived to reinforce learning. Model results asserted similarly that farmers’ exposure to and understanding of messages was increased by the use of multimedia. The multimedia messages had a positive contribution to productivity and diversity in the practices taken up. Messages on use of inoculant were the most extensively used and farmers aver that they contributed to increases in productivity. The extent of use of messages was influenced by expected benefits, clarity and ease of access to inputs. To improve utilization and effectiveness of production messages, they should be accompanied with information on how to access agricultural finance and inputs plus how to market the soybeans. Keywords: multimedia, knowledge, productivity, practices, inoculant, soybean DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-24-01 Publication date: December 31st 201

Climate change communication for adaptation : mapping communication pathways in semi-arid regions to identify research priorities

The accessibility of climate information for marginalised groups can vary significantly according to the approach taken. This paper reviews the literature on climate adaptation communications challenges in the drylands of Africa and Asia. It maps out the current state of knowledge on how climate change information is communicated, accessed and used for adaptation in these areas. Top-down generation of technical climate information with limited local level utility has prompted a more recent shift towards more people-centred climate risk and decision making. Semi-arid developing world regions have been identified as zones of historic marginalisation, with acute human vulnerability to climate change.Great Britain. Dept for International Developmen

The use of information and communication technologies in agricultural development in rural areas: Case of smallholder farmers in Umzimvubu Local Municipality

Proper and timeous communication amongst different social development participants is one of the main driving factors for successful human progress. Different platforms have been used by different industries across the globe to ensure that useful information is shared with relevant structures at appropriate times. The global increase on use and availability of Information Communication Technologies (ICT’s) has prompted a thorough analysis and study of their relevance on different industries. Much of the increase has been observed mainly on highly urbanized areas, where the majority of the population is literate and who are above the poverty line. Some researchers have argued that the language used in some of the ICT’s is limited to the elite few, while others highlight cost implications in the use of these ICTs. The agricultural industry is not immune to the debates that relate to the development of ICTs, it is in most cases at the center, due to its diverse nature (in terms of participation) and close linkage to human development. There seems to be a correlation between ICT usage and the economies of scale in agricultural development, where smallholder farmers tend to use less of highly modernized ICTs, while commercial large scale farmers use more of the modernized ICTs. This disparity amongst farmers is exacerbated in many areas by the differing support systems employed by the public extension services. This study was initiated in order to study the usage and relevance of the ICTs by the smallholder farmers of the Umzimvubu Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The research address the following research questions: 1. Which ICTs are owned by smallholder farmers of Umzimvubu local municipality? 2. Do smallholder farmers use ICTs to communicate agricultural information? 3. What are the types of ICT devices and services used by smallholder farmers for vi agricultural development? 4. What are the challenges faced by smallholder farmers when using ICTs to communicate agricultural information? A survey questionnaire was then developed to collect the relevant data from randomly selected six villages of Umzimvubu Local Municipality. The questionnaires structure employed both closed and open-ended questions that were administered using a face to face interview, conducted on the sample population in each village. The results indicated that the most common ICTs that were owned by smallholder farmers in the study area were: mobile phones (33%), televisions (TV) (28%), and radio (20%). The results also showed that communication amongst farmers (35%) and extension officers (35%) was the most notable use of mobile phone from the study area. The results also revealed that most smallholder farmers faced the following challenges when using ICTs to retrieve agricultural information; poor signal (40%), inconsistent broadcasting times for TV and radio agricultural programmes (35%), language barrier (15%) and lack of electricity (10%). The study, therefore, concludes that a majority of smallholder farmers from the study area own ICT devices necessary for rural agricultural development (mobile phones, TV and radio) that can be targeted by extension officers, policy makers, rural development implementing agencies and agro-industries to promote rural development. However, several challenges (language barrier, poor network signal and no electricity) limit the potential of these ICT devices and services from fully benefiting smallholder farmers

Use and communication of climate information to support uptake of adaptation actions in semi-arid regions in Africa and Asia

Synthesis and analysis reportThe aim was to identify challenges and opportunities for effective understanding, communication and use of weather and climate information in semi-arid regions (SAR) of Africa and Asia. Radios and mobile phones are the preferred channels for communicating weather and climate information. However, the variability in level of trust in the climate information that is being communicated affects both how it is understood and used. This paper reports on the findings of the first phase of the research.International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada and UK's Department for International Development (DFID

Towards reducing sugarcane productivity gap between largescale and smallholder farmers: Influence of ICT among sugarcane growers in Swaziland.

Doctor of Philosophy in Rural Resource Management. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2018.This study evaluates the role of agricultural extension relative to improving information access among smallholder farmers and extension officers with an overall aim of increasing smallholder sugarcane productivity in Swaziland. The country is currently experiencing a decrease in the productivity of smallholder sugarcane growers yet they form a substantial portion of the overall sugar production statistics. The research process adopted for this investigation involved a theoretical process on one hand, and an empirical process on the other. Both processes followed a systematic investigation pattern. The influence of agricultural extension towards improving sugarcane production and the influence of ICT on knowledge and information management among sugarcane farmers were first interrogated separately. The theoretical approach went on to discuss how well agricultural extension can use ICT to facilitate knowledge and information access among smallholder sugarcane farmers to help them improve their productivity. Drawing from relevant published works, this study was able to establish that agricultural extension, through the use of ICT, is particularly well positioned to assist smallholder farmers with access to sugarcane production information hence improve their productivity. The empirical process involved data collection through structured interviews with respondents, comprising smallholder sugarcane farmers and extension officers within the sugar industry of Swaziland. A total of 189 respondents participated in the investigation regarding their perceptions on three information access issues: i) barriers to information access; ii) readiness towards the use of ICT to access information and; iii) how information and knowledge is currently being managed. The study generally found that respondents did not perceive most of the barriers to be a hindrance to information access amongst themselves. They also regarded themselves as ready to use ICT, specifically cell phones, to access sugarcane production information. Finally, the study revealed that almost all the respondents have already started using their cell phone to manage information within their workplaces and farms. Based on the findings, the study then developed a communication model that will make use of the available communication resources to improve information dissemination and management among the sugar industry players. The study concluded by proposing a linkage that will see the government of Swaziland, the sugar industry players and the only mobile network provider in the country (MTN) coming together to support the smallholder sugarcane grower and facilitate the implementation of this model for improved sugarcane productivity

Accessibility of agricultural information by smallholder farmers in Amatole District Municipality: Nexus between agricultural extension services and the library

Accessibility to relevant, accurate and timely information remains vital in farming. For farmers to improve their productivity they depend on access to pertinent agricultural information. Such information updated them about new agricultural technologies, climate change, new cultivars, access to market and access to financial assistance. These types of information help farmers in decision making regarding their farming. Agricultural extension officers remain a reliable source where farmers could obtain relevant agricultural information. Community libraries are also channels that could be used by agricultural extension officers to complement their work of providing farmers with information. Thus, the study sought to assess linkage between these two institutions to provide farmers with information. A positivism paradigm with quantitative research approach were adopted in the study. Smallholder farmers (169), agricultural extension officers (5) and librarians (15) were the unit of analysis. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection and SPSS software for analysis. Findings revealed that, agricultural extension officers mostly utilise interpersonal channels that include demonstrations, group meetings and face-to-face interaction to provide farmers with information. Community libraries were found to be non-utilised by extension services and also by farmers. Farmers were of the perception that libraries are meant for educated people. It was also discovered that community libraries have information on agriculture that only targets learners who are taking agriculture in school as a subject. There was no existing linkage between agricultural extension services and community libraries working together to provide farmers with pertinent agricultural information that can help them improve productivit