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This paper to examine the relationship between performance expectancy and behavioural intention to use mobile-based communication technologies for agricultural market information dissemination in Uganda.

A descriptive field survey method was adopted. A total of 302 commercial farmers and agribusiness traders in Eastern Uganda participated in the study from whom data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, correlation and regression analyses were used in the study.

The findings reveal a significant positive relationship between performance expectancy and behavioural intentions to use mobile-based communication technologies for agricultural information access and dissemination. This implies that, commercial farmers’ behavioural intentions to use mobile-based communication technologies for agricultural market information dissemination and access will be influenced if they anticipate mobile-based communication technologies to offer greater performance in their daily transactions.

This study was conducted in the context of resource constrained countries particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, however reflecting knowledge from other contexts. The study was conducted with a structured questionnaire being the main data collection tool, and this limited the study from collecting views outside the questions asked in the questionnaire. The variables studied could not be analysed for a long time, given that the study was cross-sectional in nature.

The study provides recommendations on how to further boost farmers’ behavioural intentions to use mobile-based communication technologies for agricultural information dissemination. Policy makers need to ensure that policies are put in place that encourage third party software developers and telecommunication companies to provide software products and solutions that are beneficial to the commercial farmers and can enable them complete their agricultural transactions in time.

The study provides critical literature on the influence of performance expectancy on commercial farmers’ behavioural intentions to use mobile-based communication technologies for agricultural market information access and dissemination in resource constrained settings.

It is noted that farmers in Uganda are slowly progressing to newer mobile information and communication technology tools for market information access and dissemination; however, little is known as to why there is slow adoption of these mobile technologies for agricultural purposes; yet policy makers need to come up with proper strategies to encourage wide scale use of mobile technologies for agricultural market purposes.

Begins by tracing the efforts that have been undertaken to establish an agricultural information programme in Southern Africa. Argues that in order to develop an appropriate agricultural information programme in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) there is need to establish in each SADC country an agricultural information policy which supports both the generation of agricultural information and the development and training of agricultural information specialists. Gives an illustration of a programme which will provide the necessary professional training. Stresses that existing agricultural libraries need to be empowered in such a way that they are able to carry out their function effectively. A regional network should also be established to provide for the speedy delivery of information to end‐users. Concludes by calling for stability in the region to enable the agricultural information programme to succeed.

The lack of proper dissemination of market information is observed as the main reason of poor marketing of the agricultural produce in India. Application of information and communication technology (ICT) can bridge this information gap by means of dissemination of required marketing information specifically targeted at the farmers. The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of ICT on marketing of rice in Uttar Pradesh, one of the biggest northern states of India.

As rice is the dominant crop of Uttar Pradesh, the impact of ICT on net price received (NP_f) by rice producers of the state is studied. An attempt is also made to identify the factors that influence the use of ICT. Primary data are collected through a multistage sampling technique. Single, multiple dummy and binary logistic regression models are used in the present work.

A significant difference is observed in the NP_f of the farmers using ICT than that of non-users. Education and land holding type also have a positive and significant impact on ICT use.

In the existing literature, the study related to the impact of ICT on agricultural marketing is almost absent for India in general, and Uttar Pradesh in particular. ICT has created impact in almost all directions of life. It is expected that the implementation of ICT will create a notable impact on the income level of the farmers. The present study will give a direction in this regard. The study is based on primary data and original work of the authors.

During recent years the British Library Research and Development Department and its forerunner, the Office for Scientific and Technical Information, have, in addition to normal funding of research projects on specific topics, supported the work of a series of Review Committees. The Review Committees have been set up to review past and current information research in the United Kingdom in various areas of knowledge, and to recommend topics for further research and development in those areas. The subject areas so far covered include Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Medicine, Metals Information and Agriculture. The Agricultural Information Review Committee, with which this report is particularly concerned, was set up in October 1976, and its Report was published by the British Library (BLR & DD Report 5469) in May 1979.

The purpose of this paper is to assess sources of agricultural information used by farmers for climate change adaptation in the semi arid areas of Tanzania.

Mixed quantitative and qualitative methods were deployed. Semi‐structured interviews were used to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 100 farmers in three selected wards in Chamwino district in Tanzania. Focus groups were also used to collect qualitative data from 30 farmers in the same wards.

The results showed that the major sources of information for farmers were predominantly local (neighbours and friends), followed by public extension services. Apart from radio and cell phones, advanced technologies (i.e. internet and e‐mail) and printed materials were not used in the study area, despite their existence in the communities.

The study necessitates a need to conduct regular studies on preferred information source of agricultural information and knowledge, development of technologies and use multiple sources of knowledge and information (such as print and mass media) to deliver relevant information to farmers to enable them to adapt to climate change.

The study provides a deep understanding of sources of agricultural information used by farmers in the semi arid area, which necessitates a need for demand‐led and client‐based information services, in order to meet the disparate farmers' needs in this regime of climate change. These findings can serve as an example for the increasing use of mixed quantitative and qualitative in information research.

Presented at the SCANUL‐ECS Conference held in Kenya 23‐26 July 1998. Examines the opportunities of information technology (IT) in improving access, transfer and use of agricultural information in the rural areas of Kenya. This paper has used the term “information technology” to include CD‐ROM, computer networks, desktop publishing, interactive video, packet radio, expert systems, geographical information systems and satellite communications. The methodology adopted by the study was the use of case studies of the organisations and institutions that use IT in disseminating agricultural information to the rural population in Kenya. The study was limited to agricultural information. The information technologies examined include CD‐ROM, computer networks, video and desktop publishing. Highlights the advantages and limitations of IT in disseminating information in the rural areas of Kenya. Among the factors that make IT relevant for rural development are vast storage, fast and inexpensive communication channels, links between different media, easy and enjoyable use at comparatively and steadily declining costs. Concludes that for IT to have more impact on rural development, it should be needs driven, rather than technology driven. This can only be achieved if the needs of the users are placed at the centre and appropriate technologies adopted.

The main purpose of this study is to examine the impact of agricultural internet information (AII) acquisition on climate-resilient variety adoption among rice farmers in the Jianghan Plain region of China. Additionally, it explores the influencing channels involved in this process.

Based on survey data for 877 rice farmers from 10 counties in the Jianghan Plain, China, this paper used an econometric approach to estimate the impact of AII acquisition on farmers’ adoption of climate-resilient varieties. A recursive bivariate Probit model was used to address endogeneity issues and obtain accurate estimates. Furthermore, three main influencing mechanisms were proposed and tested, which are broadening information channels, enhancing social interactions and improving agricultural skills.

The results show that acquiring AII can overall enhance the likelihood of farmers adopting climate-resilient varieties by 36.8%. The three influencing channels are empirically confirmed. Besides, educational attainment, income and peer effects can facilitate farmers’ acquisition of AII, while climate conditions and age significantly influence the adoption of climate-resilient varieties.

Practical recommendations are put forward to help farmers build climate resilience, including investing in rural internet infrastructures, enhancing farmers’ digital literacy and promoting the dissemination of climate-resilient information through diverse internet platforms.

Strengthening climate resilience is essential for sustaining the livelihoods of farmers and ensuring national food security; however, the role of internet information has received limited attention. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the casual relationship between internet information and climate resilience, which fills the research gap.

Focuses on crop farmers’ access to agricultural information in rural areas of Delta State, Nigeria. Data were gathered by questionnaire from ten villages. Farmers of both genders experienced obstacles to information use, although findings revealed that there were also differences between male and female crop farmers with respect to their information needs and sources of agricultural information. Female crop farmers experienced greater problems in accessing agricultural information. However, the major information problems suffered by farmers are not gender‐specific problems. Concludes with recommendations to enhance all crop farmers’ access to agricultural information.

In a survey of 132 UK agricultural web sites, more than 60 per cent mounted directorytype information like that found in printed directories of information sources, but this was not always easily accessible. Information about people in organisations varied between the different categories of web site. Just under three‐quarters of all sites mounted some substantive content but the amount of content on sites was small. Documents were available on slightly more than half the sites, but other types of content were available on fewer sites. Few sites explained how to locate information on the site or stated the intended audience. Less than one‐third of sites had facilities to aid site navigation, but there were differences between the site categories for these features. Just over half the web sites displayed revision dates, but only about one‐third had been updated in the last three months.

This paper aims to examine the challenges facing fish farmers in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in information sharing on fish farming.

This study used both quantitative and qualitative methods. It involved 240 fish farmers who were randomly selected. Questionnaires, focus group discussions (FGDs), observation and key informant’s interviews were used as methods of data collection. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, while content analysis was used for qualitative data.

It was found that the most frequently used ICTs by fish farmers in sharing agricultural information were mobile phones, radio and television. Also, the study revealed that major challenges facing fish farmers in sharing information include unfavourable radio or television broadcasting time, high cost of acquiring and maintenance of ICT facilities, lack of training on ICT, poor network connectivity and low level of literacy. Moreover, it was further found that there was negative significant relationship (P < 0.05) between challenges associated with the use and degree of ICT usage by fish farmers.

The study is original with the exception of areas where citations have been made. Besides, it provides awareness and understanding of the challenges facing fish farmers in ICT usage in information sharing on fish farming, and this will enable improvement of timely provision and access to relevant information and hence improved fish farming production.