scholarly journals An Integrated Conceptual Framework for ICT-based Market Information Source Adoption among Smallholder Farmers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Nwafor
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Market Information ◽  
Relevant Market ◽  
Production Technologies ◽  
African Agriculture

The importance of ICTs for dissemination of information to farmers has been verified by extension practitioners, information and communication scholars, policy makers and development agencies. Information related to new seed varieties, production technologies, livestock breeds, vaccines, including weed and pest control, as well as relevant market information is constantly required by smallholder farmers. The identification of specific attributes among smallholder farmers which contributes to their adoption of a proposed ICT-based information source provides an important tool for developing interventions which address the information needs of farmers. Using a literature survey methodology, pertinent studies related to adoption of ICTs, farmers’ information source usage and relevant frameworks were identified, including applicable theories and models in technology adoption and information behaviour. In the proposed framework, the socio-economic characteristics of smallholder farmers were posited as key variables influencing smallholder farmers, within a farming system, to adopt ICT-based information sources. The framework contributes to discern the prospects of adopting ICT-based information sources by individual farmers within a farming system, and may also envisage other related welfare outcomes and market participation pathways among smallholder farmers. The review also addresses the paucity of conceptual discourse, while contributing to a growing pool of research on ICT in African agriculture.

scholarly journals “I actually got my first job through my ex-colleague”: Employment-related information seeking behavior of Bangladeshi immigrants in Canada

2021 ◽  
pp. 096100062199280
Author(s):  
Nafiz Zaman Shuva
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Immigrant Professionals ◽  
Government Of Canada ◽  
First Job

This study explores the employment-related information seeking behaviour of Bangladeshi immigrants in Canada. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with 60 Bangladeshi immigrants in Ontario, Canada, and obtained 205 survey responses. The study highlights the centrality of employment-related settlement among Bangladeshi immigrants in Ontario and reports many immigrants not being able to utilize their education and skills after arrival in Canada. The results show that Bangladeshi immigrants utilize various information sources for their employment in Canada, including friends and professional colleagues, online searchers, and settlement agencies. Although Bangladeshi immigrants utilized a large array of information sources for meeting their employment-related information needs, many interview participants emphasized that the employment-related benefits they received was because of their access to friends and professional colleagues in Canada. The survey results echoed the interview findings. The cross-tabulation results on post-arrival information sources and occupation status as well as first job information sources and occupational status in Canada show a significant association among the use of the information source “friends and professional colleagues in Canada” and immigrants’ occupational status. The study highlights the benefits of professional colleagues among immigrants in employment-related settlement contexts. It also reports the challenges faced by many immigrant professionals related to employment-related settlement because of the lack of access to their professional friends and colleagues in Canada. The author urges the Federal Government of Canada, provincial governments, and settlement agencies working with newcomers to offer services that would connect highly skilled immigrants with their professional networks in Canada, in order to get proper guidance related to obtaining a professional job or alternative career. The author calls for further studies on employment-related information seeking by immigrants to better understand the role information plays in their settlement in a new country.

Social capital or non-human sources? A cross-context study on information source selection of migrant farmer workers

2021 ◽  
pp. 016555152110551
Author(s):  
Fang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Information Service ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Source Selection ◽  
Social Capitals ◽  
Farmer Workers

Insufficient examination of social factors obscures the reason why non-human information sources are under-utilised by social groups with lower information literacy. This study explores the mechanism of information source selection (ISS) of Chinese migrant farmer workers (MFWs) in different industries by conducting a cross-context analysis. After iterative analyses of multiple cases, a theoretical model of information source selection within an individual’s information world is constructed. It explains why MFWs make more use of social capitals than non-human information sources in information seeking. Besides, the information needs are examined form both the needed information and the need itself. A classification of social capital as human information source is created and the roles that social capitals and non-human information sources play in ISS are identified. This study provides novel theoretical insights into the ‘old’ issue of ISS, and thus has practical implications for public information service providers and MFW-related policy makers.

Categorizing Blogs as Information Sources for Libraries and Information Science

2015 ◽  
pp. 4833-4845
Author(s):  
Mark-Shane Scale ◽  
Anabel Quan-Haase
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Collection Development ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Source Category

Blogs are important sources of information currently used in the work of professionals, institutions and academics. Nevertheless, traditional information needs and uses research has not yet discussed where blogs fit in the existing typologies of information sources. Blogs and other types of social media have several characteristics that blur the lines of distinction existent between traditional information source categories. This chapter brings this research problem to the fore. Not only do we examine why blogs do not neatly fit into existing information source categories, but we also deliberate the implications for libraries in terms of the need to consider blogs as an information source to be included in collection development. We discuss the opportunities and possibilities for blogs to be integrated into the collection development efforts of academic and public libraries to better serve patrons. In order to accommodate for blogs and other types of social media as information sources, we propose the introduction of an additional information source category. We suggest new avenues of future research that investigate how blogs are being used to meet information needs in various social settings, such as corporations, health care and educational settings (e.g., higher education, and schools). In this chapter, we develop a framework of how blogs may function as information sources to provide libraries with a better understanding of how blogs are integrated into the context of everyday information seeking. By grouping the ways in which people employ blogs to acquire information, we propose that blogs provide information sources along a continuum ranging from non-fiction to fictional information.

scholarly journals Adoption of ICT-Based Information Sources and Market Participation among Smallholder Livestock Farmers in South Africa

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Ugochukwu Nwafor ◽  
Abiodun A. Ogundeji ◽  
Carlu van der Westhuizen
Keyword(s):  
Information Sources ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Significant Other ◽  
Market Information ◽  
Market Participation ◽  
Farmer Cooperatives ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Livestock Farmers ◽  
Additional Income ◽  
Analyze Data

The study explored the contribution of information and communication technology (ICT)-based information sources to market participation among smallholder livestock farmers. Use of ICTs is considered paramount for providing smallholder farmers with required market information, and also to reduce market asymmetries. A double hurdle regression was utilized to analyze data collected from 150 smallholder livestock farmers in the study area. The results show that while use of ICT-based market information sources significantly influenced market participation, the effect of using ICT-based information sources on the intensity of market participation was not significant. Other variables shown to influence both market participation and the intensity of market participation were age, additional income and membership of farmer cooperatives. This suggests the need to consider other associated factors in the application and design of interventions that utilize ICT-based information sources to achieve market engagement among smallholders.

scholarly journals Commercialization of Smallholder Pulse Producers in East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Assefa Tilahun ◽  
Jema Haji ◽  
Lemma Zemedu ◽  
Dawit Alemu
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Farm Households ◽  
Market Information ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Commercial Farming ◽  
New Varieties ◽  
Livestock Feeding ◽  
Land Size

This study examines pulse producers’ commercialization using a cross-sectional data obtained from 385 randomly and proportionately selected sampled households from East Gojjam zone, Amhara National Regional State of Ethiopia. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and econometric model to characterize sample households and identify factors affecting pulse output commercialization. The mean commercial index for the sample households was 0.345 which indicates that on average a household sold 34.5% of his/her total pulse produce. As a result, farm households’ output commercialization levels fall in semi-commercial farming system. Two limit Tobit model result indicated that farm households’ crop output commercialization was positively and significantly influenced by access to improved seed, cooperative membership, land size, access to market information and pulse yield and was negatively and significantly influenced by family size and livestock owned. Based on the findings, improved seed/new varieties should be released and accessed to smallholder farmers, deliver market information timely, land owned allocation should be intensified so that smallholder producers can increase their crop output commercialization, strengthening the existing farmers’ cooperatives and finally cut and carry livestock feeding system should be practiced in order to manage farm land properly.

Information needs and barriers of rural smallholder farmers in developing countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austine Phiri ◽  
George T Chipeta ◽  
Winner D Chawinga
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Information Need ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
The Social ◽  
Crop Husbandry ◽  
Agriculture Extension

The purpose of the study was to investigate the information needs and barriers of rural smallholder farmers in Mzimba North in Malawi. A mixed methods approach was adopted for the study and the Wilson’s Model of Information Behaviour (1996) guided the study. A questionnaire and focus group discussion guide were used to collect data from 202 rural smallholder farmers. The study found that the major information need of rural smallholder farmers was crop husbandry as revealed by the majority of rural smallholder farmers 149 (77.6). The study found that majority of rural smallholder farmers 180 (94.8%) were aware of information sources. The study also found that the predominant information sources consulted by rural smallholder farmers were personal experiences as indicated by the majority of rural smallholder farmers 185 (96%). The major challenge faced by rural smallholder farmers was lack of mobility as revealed by the majority of rural smallholder farmers 147 (76.6). The study recommends that the Department of Agriculture Extension Services (DAES) should empower the social structures such as families in rural settings with agricultural information.

scholarly journals Adoption of ICT-based Information Sources and Market Participation among Smallholder Livestock Farmers in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Ugochukwu Nwafor ◽  
Abiodun, A. Ogundeji ◽  
Carlu van der Westhuizen
Keyword(s):  
Information Sources ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Significant Other ◽  
Market Information ◽  
Market Participation ◽  
Farmer Cooperatives ◽  
Livestock Farmers ◽  
Additional Income ◽  
Hurdle Regression ◽  
Analyze Data

The study explored the contribution of ICT-based information sources to market participation among smallholder livestock farmers. Use of ICTs is considered paramount for providing smallholder farmers with required market information, in order to reduce market asymmetries. A Double Hurdle regression was utilized to analyze data collected from 150 smallholder livestock farmers in the study area. The results show that while use of ICT-based market information sources significantly influenced market participation, the effect of using ICT-based information sources on intensity of market participation was not significant. Other variables shown to influence both market participation and the intensity of market participation were age, additional income and membership of farmer cooperatives. This suggests the need to also consider other associated factors in the application of interventions which utilize ICT-based information sources in achieving planned market interventions.

scholarly journals Perilaku Penemuan Informasi Mahasiswa Shopaholic tentang Fashion di Surabaya

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Yuniar Dwi Puspitasari
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Product Information ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Information Discovery ◽  
Purposive Sampling ◽  
Everyday Life Information Seeking

AbstractInformation about fashion is an activity that is intended to find information about fashion that you want to know. Information discovery activities are not only to fulfill the information needs but also to increase students' knowledge about fashion. In information discovery activities students can obtain information on the internet such as social media, websites, markets, and on television. But in the process of finding information there are still quite a lot of students who experience obstacles and constraints ranging from accessing to purchasing something. Regarding fashion, it is very pleasing to lifestyle, where fashion can be the identity, features, or differences of the individual's expression. Besides that, a person's lifestyle will draw attention to the situation and realize it or not will make a person have a hedonic nature or often called consumptive. This research uses descriptive quantitative. This study uses the Everyday Life Information Seeking Behavior theory by Reijo Savolainen (1995). The research location was conducted at the University in Surabaya, namely at Airlangga University, PERBANAS, Surabaya University, and Surabaya State University. The sampling method uses purposive sampling with a total of 100 respondents. The results of the study show the facts about students who find fashion information most often sought is clothing as much as 70% with an average duration of 1-2 hours at night. Besides that, the habit of meeting the desired information needs is accessing an idol figure and also viewing photos/videos on social media 82%. The second is shopaholic student information source preferences in finding information needed by students using smartphones to access Instagram social media. And information sources used to find information are 75% handpicked information sources. Related to problems in information discovery. Where shopaholic students who spent the information found 63%, related to the information obtained related to product/product information as much as 58%. The mode search information that was carried out was fulfilled by carrying out the activity of searching again by using the free and relevant source of information.Keywords: Information discovery behavior, students, fashion, lifestyle  AbstrakPerilaku penemuan informasi fashion merupakan suatu kegiatan yang bertujuan untuk menemukan informasi tentang fashion yang ingin diketahui. Aktivitas penemuan informasi tersebut selain untuk memenuhi kebutuhan informasi juga dengan tujuan untuk menambah pengetahuan mahasiswa tentang fashion. Dalam aktivitas penemuan informasi mahasiswa bisa mendapatkan informasi di internet seperti media sosial, website, market place maupun di televisi. Namun dalam proses penemuan informasi masih cukup banyak mahasiswa yang mengalami hambatan dan kendala mulai dari pengaksesan sampai dengan pembelian barang. Berbicara tentang fashion erat kaitannya dengan gaya hidup, dimana fashion bisa menjadi identitas, ciri, atau gambaran atas ekspresi individu tersebut. Disamping itu, gaya hidup seseorang akan berpengaruh pada perilaku dan disadari atau tidak akan membuat seseorang memiliki sifat hedonis atau sering disebut konsumtif. Penelitian ini menggunakan metodologi kuantitatif deskriptif. Penelitian ini menggunakan teori Everyday Life Information Seeking Behaviour oleh Reijo Savolainen (1995). Lokasi penelitian yaitu dilakukan di empat Universitas di Surabaya, yaitu di Universitas Airlangga, PERBANAS, Universitas Surabaya, dan Universitas Negeri Surabaya. Metode pengambilan sampel menggunakan purposive sampling dengan jumlah 100 responden. Hasil dari penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kebiasaan mahasiswa dalam penemuan informasi fashion yang paling sering dicari yaitu pakaian sebanyak 70% dengan rata-rata durasi 1-2 jam pada malam hari. Disamping itukebiasaan dalam memenuhi kebutuhan informasi yang diinginkan yaitu mengakses sosok idola dan juga melihat foto/video di media sosial 82%. Yang kedua yaitu preferensi sumber informasi mahasiswa shopaholic dalan penemuan informasi mayoritas mahasiswa menggunakan smartphone, untuk mengakses media sosial instagram. Dan mayoritas sumber informasi yang digunakan untuk melakukan penemaun informasi ialah sumber informasi yang dipilih sendiri 75%. Yang ketiga terkait penyelesaian masalah dalam penemuan informasi. Dimana mahasiswa shopaholic yang mengalami kendala dalam penemuan informasi terdapat 63%, mayoritas bentuk kendala yang pernah dialami yaitu terkait informasi barang/produk sebanyak 58%. Hasil penelusuran informasi fashion yang dilakukan mayoritas terpenuhi dengan melakukan kegiatan pencarian ulang dengan menggunakan sumber informasi yang gratis dan relevan.Kata kunci : Perilaku penemuan informasi, mahasiswa, fashion, gaya hidup

scholarly journals Rural Smallholder Farmers' Awareness and Use of ICT-Based Market Information Sources in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Nwafor ◽  
Carlu van der Westhuizen ◽  
Abiodun Ogundeji
Keyword(s):  
Information Search ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Base Stations ◽  
Market Information ◽  
Market Interaction ◽  
Livestock Farmers ◽  
Using Data

The utility of ICTs for providing market information to rural smallholder farmers is growing rapidly, and access to reliable information and sources is considered crucial for beneficial market interaction. This study explored critical factors contributing to usage of electronic sources for market information search among rural smallholder livestock farmers. Using data collected from 129 respondents through a non-random sampling technique; descriptive and regression analysis was applied to identify key factors responsible for their awareness and use of ICT-based market information sources. Level of education was found to be a driver of awareness of ICT-based sources, and use of these sources was influenced by farmer-specific characteristics such as household size, education, income, membership of cooperatives and herd-size. The key ICT tools used was radio and mobile phones, widely available in the study area. Identified constraints to use of these ICTs include cost and patchy network signals in some areas. Policy interventions to reduce cost of mobile phone services and expansion of base stations; including practical recommendations for improved programming in radio and television offerings, are considered indispensable for greater uptake of e-information sources among smallholder livestock farmers.

Information sources preference of poultry farmers in selected rural areas of Tanzania

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace E.P. Msoffe ◽  
Patrick Ngulube
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Oral Tradition ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Poultry Farmers

This study focused on poultry farmers’ preference of information sources for accessing poultry management information in three rural districts of Tanzania. A mixed methods research design was deployed. Questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Responses to the questionnaire which was administered by researchers in face-to-face meetings were received from 360 farmers, and 160 farmers participated in 16 focus group discussions. The study was carried out from July to December 2013 in nine selected villages in Tanzania. The findings indicate that farmers preferred interpersonal and informal sources. Source preferences were influenced by availability and accessibility of the information source. The results suggest that farmers preferred listening and talking, probably a result of the oral tradition prevailing in rural areas. It is also probable that farmers enjoy interpersonal sources because they allow a two-way communication, provide quick access, immediate feedback, ease of use, and convey information specific to their local situations. Further studies on development and changes in farmers’ information source preference are required in order to better address their current and future information needs.

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