Bridging Gender Gaps in Provision of Agricultural Extension Service Using ICT

This article was designed to present the assessment of the effectiveness of radio - based, impact driven smallholder farmer extension service system provided by FVR to enhance accessibility of extension services to women and men in the project areas of Tanzania. Specifically, this paper assessed women and men farmers' access to ICT and factors influencing the utilization of ICT to deliver agricultural information and knowledge. The paper used data from impact assessment survey of the project conducted between April 2012 and June 2012. These data were complemented by focus group discussion involving members of gender advisory panel that had been established in the selected project sites. Quantitative data were analyzed to yield frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis. Even though ownership of mobile phones and radio was higher among women in all study areas both men and women farmers' had almost the same percentage in accessibility to agricultural extension information. The factors that affected women and men farmers to get quality agricultural information via these ICT tools were namely: poor radio signal reception, power outrage and poor timing of radio programs among others. This is important evidence that careful use of ICT can reduce gender imbalance in agricultural extension services and information delivery.

Challenges and Prospects of ICT Use in Agricultural Marketing

Up-to-date market information on prices for commodities, inputs and consumer trends can improve farmers' livelihoods substantially and have a dramatic impact on their negotiating positions. Information on new marketing opportunities and the market prices of farm inputs and outputs is fundamental to an efficient and productive agricultural economy. The main focus of this study was on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) use on agricultural marketing. Use of ICT (mobile phone, radio and television) and factors affecting ICT use in agricultural marketing in Eastern Hararghe were the objectives of this study. Random sample of 210 producers were selected from six purposively selected kebeles from Haramaya, Kersa and Metta woredas based on their production potential. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model were used for analyzing the data and 63.8% were ICT users while 36.2% were not. The model result indicated that age, year of education, information seeking behavior and participation in trainings were significant determinants of ICT use. Network availability in the area, construction of electric line and infrastructures, network coverage throughout the country, affordable cost of simcard with free air time were opportunities for mobile phone use. Construction of electric line and infrastructures, wide area coverage of the frequency were opportunities for radio and television use. Alternative power source (battery) and expansion of Frequency Modulation (FM) stations were other opportunities for radio use. Interruption of network and electricity, language problem, absence of organized source of information are some challenges to use ICT. Adult education and trainings are useful to promote the awareness of producers; establishing basic infrastructures and services including electricity is basic requirement for ICT utilization. For the effective use of ICT, local languages needs to be used and trainings about how to use ICT also need to be provided.

An Evolutionary Approach for Question Selection from a Question Bank

The success of any educational program depends on its evaluation system. Examinations are a part of learning process which acts as an element in evaluation. For the smooth conduct of examinations of various universities and academic institutions, the question paper generation process would be helpful. However, examination question paper composition is a multi-constraint concurrent optimization problem. Question selection plays a key role in question paper generation systems. Also it is the most significant and time consuming activity. The question selection is handled in traditional question paper generation systems by using a specified question paper format containing a listing of weightages to be allotted to each unit/module of the syllabus. They do not consider other constraints such as total time duration for completion of the paper, total number of questions and the difficulty level of the questions in the question paper etc. In this paper, the authors have modeled the Question Selection Problem as a multi-constraint optimization problem and proposed an Evolutionary Approach for the implementation same. The authors have experimented with this approach on a case study. The results obtained in this case study are interesting and promising to continue its implementation work and further research.

Interaction Patterns and ICT Use to Support the Livelihoods of Microenterprises

This paper reports on the nature of interaction patterns and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to support the livelihood of microenterprises. The study focused on the case of South Africa where Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) act as a means for addressing unemployment and poverty. The study used qualitative data to understand the interaction patterns and how ICT such as computers, mobile phones and internet are used to support the livelihoods of microenterprises. The findings showed that vertical and horizontal interactions supported the flow of information and sharing of knowledge used in decisions for reducing vulnerabilities in the livelihoods of microenterprises. ICT were improving the interactions that supported the livelihoods of microenterprises. The study recommends use of existing social networks for microenterprises when designing interventions for supporting microenterprises.

The Accessibility and Problems Associated with the Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by Fish Farmers in Rural Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria

The study evaluated the accessibility and problems associated with the use of information and communication technologies in rural areas of Ondo State. Total sampling was used to select 92 rural fish farmers from three riverine Local Governments in the state between February and April. Questionnaire was used in data collection. Data were analyzed by the use of frequency, percentage, mean and Chi-square test. It was found that radio (96.7%), television (84.4%) and mobile phone (95.7%) were most accessible ICTs to fish farmers of which radio is the most effective (62.0%). Problems associated with the use of ICTs were electric power supply (96.7%), lack of access to ICTs (62.0%) and inadequate information on ICTs (59.8%). There were significant relationship (P<0.05) between problems associated with the use and accessibility of ICTs by fish farmers. It is recommended that the government should allow a wide range of radio broadcast options by giving opportunities for private competition provision of radio content which will allow for development input from relevant agencies.

Analysis of the Use of Information and Communication Technologies among Farmers in Tole District, South West Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

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 assess and analyze factors influencing the use of Information and Communication Technologies by farmers in Tole District of South West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. Data were collected (n=144) from 144 randomly selected respondents from Tole District, of which 69 were ICT user farmers and 75 of them were non users of ICT. The study deployed mixed methods research. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. Qualitative data were analyzed through interpretation, narration, and finally complement the descriptive analysis. The key finding of this study revealed that the social, economic and institutional factors were identified in study as factors in using ICT by 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 by farmers. The findings also revealed that Radio, Television, mobile phone, fixed phone, and written materials were easily accessed by majority of both users and non users of ICT. 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.

Adoption of Mobile Technology by Farmers in Southwest-Nigeria

This study evaluates the behavioral intention of farmers in selected areas of Nigeria to adopt mobile technology for agricultural purposes. A theoretical framework was developed based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) and innovation diffusion theory (IDT). Five variables were evaluated. Convenience sampling was employed in the investigation. A total of 202 responses were retrieved. Factor analysis was performed to test the reliability and validity of the measurement items. Correlation analysis was used to test the conformity of the empirical data with the presumed model using SPSS version 16. All five measurement items: perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, relative advantage, compatibility, and attitude were found to be direct predictors of adoption behavior. The study provides evidence for the potential of mobile technology in agriculture.

Mobile Instant Messaging used to Provide Support and Advice to South African Youth

Drug Advice Support (DAS), via mobile instant messaging originated in RLabs, South Africa. The question in this research was could DAS be scaled up in different geographical and ethnic areas in Cape Town? An investigation using mixed methods and triangulation of data sources compared performance and outcomes over five areas. Results showed that calls were classified into relationship, sex information and drug advice, There are statistical differences in outcomes across the five areas. It was discovered that some calls required intervention by statutory agencies. The research demonstrated that DAS can be used beyond RLabs if proper pre-requisites and training are put in place.

Transformative Potential of Agricultural Mobile Market Information System in Tamilnadu, India

The agricultural sector is the largest and most critical economic sector and a developing country like India, with its economic backbone as agriculture, is highly dependent to sustain its population. To compete with other agricultural economies, a need exists to create effective linkage between the seat of agricultural production and market forces involved in the provision of goods to the consumers within India. A strong network communication must be established between the various stakeholders of agricultural trade to facilitate a balance between demand and supply. With the advent of mobile phones, internet, and other Information and Communication Technologies, new possibilities and multi-dimensional factors that create instant communication between the target groups have emerged and these ICT tools could be used as a source of agricultural information dissemination to the farmers. This paper analyses mobile based agricultural Market Information Services (MIS) that deliver critical market price information to farmers in Tamilnadu, India. The study also provides an overview of the ICT based mobile market linkage systems and analyses the operability of such projects. The study also assesses the benefits of such projects in providing relevant information to the farmers and the emerging opportunities for rural farmers to make constructive use of the e-agriculture projects.

The Emerging Market of Sub-Saharan Africa and Technology Adoption

In the United States, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and several emerging economies in Asia, mobile technologies have become ubiquitous and core to everyday lives. The same cannot be said for many countries in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). The availability, affordability and use of information and communication technology (ICT) continue to pose a major challenge to the progress of this important emerging economy and their participation in a networked and “flat world.” Writers (Bishop et al., 1999; ADB, 2003; Fisher et al., 2004; Elijah & Ogunlade, 2006; Etim, 2009; Ssewanyana, 2007) argue for the use of ICT to enable the SSA population in the area of economic and personal development. This paper examines the emerging economy of SSA adoption of mobile technologies in comparison to the U.S.A and reports a study on the features that SSA students desire in mobile phones. The key finding was that study participants desired Internet access via mobile phones.