Applicability of information and communication technologies (ict) in Tanzania fisher communities

This research has two broad objectives. First to explore the fisheries and fisher community post-harvest chain in Tanzania. Second is to recommend a feasible starting point for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) intervention in order to positively reduce post-harvest fish losses. All the previous efforts and researches to intervene the situation have been adopting ways to combat biological changes of harvested products. However this research has ventured into the direction of exploiting ICT capabilities in intervening the situation in the fish post harvest sub-sector. Surveying 16 communities in Dar es Salaam and Coast regions for the basic ICT infrastructure (Electricity and Telecommunication Networks), the study revealed that 69 percent have grid electricity, 63 percent have landline telephone and cellular phone networks cover 94 percent. The study further revealed that at least every community have primary school and some communities have secondary school, institute and even library in their neighbourhood. Based on result obtained the researcher propose the development of Community Knowledge Centre (CKC) in fisher communities equipped with appropriate ICT facilities as a starting point towards improving the situation and interaction with global community which will finally lead to improved trade transaction.