Information and Communication Technologies for Agricultural Knowledge Management: Comparative assessment of Peri-urban and Rural settings in Kenya
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This study compared how smallholder farmers in peri-urban and rural areas of Kenya access agricultural information and communication technologies (ICTs). It found that while most farmers in both areas use ICTs, the types used differ - peri-urban farmers rely more on TV while rural farmers rely more on mobile phones. Access to different ICTs also varies between the areas due to infrastructure differences. The study recommends the government increase awareness of available ICT resources and capacity building to help farmers better utilize mobile technologies.
Information and Communication Technologies for Agricultural Knowledge Management: Comparative assessment of Peri-urban and Rural settings in Kenya
- 1. Information and Communication Technologies for Agricultural Knowledge Management: Comparative assessment of Peri-urban and Rural settings in Kenya Odongo Dorine, A Department of Agriculture Economics University of Nairobi odongo.dorine@gmail.com
- 2. How the Kenyan government promotes ICT • E-government strategy –to use ICTs to transform government processes & provide services, information & K (www.e-government.go.ke) • Kenyan Open Data Initiative (www.opendata.go.ke) • Kenya ICT board (www.ict.go.ke). Has mandates for capacity building, advisory. Also supports projects like KENET(Kenya National Research & Education Network) • Extension policy (NASEP) promotes ICT in agriculture and extension through: – Increased investment in Agricultural Knowledge & Information System (AKIS) – Incentives to private sector
- 3. Study Design • Study was carried out in two districts: Dagoretti (peri-urban), Mbooni (rural) • 200 smallholder horticulture farmers interviewed in both districts using a semi-structured questionnaire • 2 focus group discussions held in each district • Data was subjected to analysis using the SPSS version 20, Statistical significance set at 5%
- 4. Why this study? • ICT usage in agriculture has gained popularity with more ICT-based innovations for agricultural knowledge dissemination. • NAFIS (www.nafis.go.ke) • Sauti ya Mkulima, • kuza doctor (www.backpackfarm.com) • M-kilimo (www.m-kilimo.com) • Shamba shape up programme • KACE (www.kace.co.ke) • Kenyan government has shifted to a policy of pluralistic extension provision. How has this influenced use of ICT for K acquisition? • To investigate & compare use of ICT among small-holder farmers in peri-urban & rural settings
- 5. Sources of knowledge & percentage of farmers using them
- 6. Farmers’ ICT usage in Dagoretti and Mbooni districts •71.8% of farmers in peri-urban & 68% in rural areas use ICTs to acquire knowledge •Use of specific ICT types differs in the two settings: Why the differences in the 2 districts between TV, mobile, & internet? Why are farmers in Mbooni using mobile more than in Dagoretti?
- 7. Ease of accessing the various ICT types ICT type Dagoretti Mbooni Radio Programmes Very easy 54.40% 52.60% Moderately easy 27.20% 19.60% Not easy 10.70% 9.30% Impossible 7.80% 18.60% TV programmes Very easy 43.70% 6.20% Moderately easy 26.20% 9.70% Not easy 9.70% 11.30% Impossible 20.40% 75.30%
- 8. Mobile-based technologies Dagoretti Mbooni Very easy 20.20% 31.60% Moderately easy 11.70% 14.40% Not easy 18.60% 8.20% Impossible 49.50% 45.70% Internet- based technologies Very easy 19.40% 3.10% Moderately easy 5.80% 0% Not easy 6.80% 7.20% Impossible 68% 89.70%
- 9. Why the difference in ease of access? Mobile TV •Access to advisory services using mobile not easily accessible to most farmers due to lack of information about them •Majority of farmers in rural setting not able to access TV due to setting & infra-structure e.g. lack of electricity
- 10. Radio Internet •Radio is readily available to more than 65% of farmers in both settings •Inconsistency and inconvenient timing are a significant hindrance to accessing radio programmes—28% in Dagoretti & 20.8% in Mbooni
- 11. Conclusion & Recommendations • Context based on information needs influences use of ICT- based technologies for K acquisition- demand for context- specific knowledge • Setting influences use of television based technologies for K acquisition- rural setting has very limited access to TVs compared to peri-urban setting • Use of internet based technologies among smallholder farmers is still very low . • There is need to ensure consistency in airing of the radio
- 12. Recommendations, continued • There is a need to create more awareness & capacity building- especially about mobile- based technologies • Additional studies to survey more farmers in peri-urban and rural areas would be useful to assist government as it plans outreach to farmers and the private sector, which provides ICT infrastructure