Agricultural information needs and information -seeking behaviour of small-scale sugar cane growers in Tanzania with a gender perspective: a case study of Kilombero District
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Date
2010
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University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study is about the agricultural information needs and information - seeking behaviour of Small-Scale Sugar Cane Growers in Tanzania with a gender perspective: A case study of Kilombero District. The study used a sample of 83 respondents drawn from three villages and five institutions. This study used a cross- sectional design while using both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Data for this study were collected by using structured questionnaires, face – to - face interviews, Focus Group Discussion, and personal observations. Quantitative data were analysed by using SPSS.11 and Excel, while qualitative data were analysed using content analysis procedure. The study findings revealed that the most needed agricultural information is information about the harvesting, tons harvested, transportation, dates of payment and actual payment. Informal sources of information are the most preferred sources of gathering agricultural information as they appear to be reliable, authentic and cheap. Small-Scale Sugar Cane Growers prefer to seek information by consulting other growers, listening to the radio, and attending farmers’ association and group meetings. Traditional media such as the radio is mostly used by females. On the other hand females are poor attenders of farmers’ association meetings and they are characterised by fear or inability to ask others. The study findings also revealed that the barriers to accessing agricultural information in the study area are associated with the lack of means and facilities by which information can be easily accessed. It is therefore recommended that means and facilities by which growers can access agricultural information are put in place, rural women empowerment and involvement in the decision-making process at all stages, and the provision of agricultural information to rural farmers should be gender sensitive.
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Keywords
Agriculture, Information services, Small scale farmers, Small-scale sugar cane growers, Information behavior, Gender, Kilombero district, Tanzania
Citation
Siyao, P. O (2010) This study is about the agricultural information needs and information - seeking behaviour of Small-Scale Sugar Cane Growers in Tanzania with a gender perspective: A case study of Kilombero District. The study used a sample of 83 respondents drawn from three villages and five institutions. This study used a cross- sectional design while using both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Data for this study were collected by using structured questionnaires, face – to - face interviews, Focus Group Discussion, and personal observations. Quantitative data were analysed by using SPSS.11 and Excel, while qualitative data were analysed using content analysis procedure. The study findings revealed that the most needed agricultural information is information about the harvesting, tons harvested, transportation, dates of payment and actual payment. Informal sources of information are the most preferred sources of gathering agricultural information as they appear to be reliable, authentic and cheap. Small-Scale Sugar Cane Growers prefer to seek information by consulting other growers, listening to the radio, and attending farmers’ association and group meetings. Traditional media such as the radio is mostly used by females. On the other hand females are poor attenders of farmers’ association meetings and they are characterised by fear or inability to ask others. The study findings also revealed that the barriers to accessing agricultural information in the study area are associated with the lack of means and facilities by which information can be easily accessed. It is therefore recommended that means and facilities by which growers can access agricultural information are put in place, rural women empowerment and involvement in the decision-making process at all stages, and the provision of agricultural information to rural farmers should be gender sensitive. Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Available at http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/detail.aspx