Factors that determine farmers’ access and utilisation of the information and communication technology provided by the department of agriculture in Bahati division, Nakuru north district, Kenya

Abstract

Limited access to accurate and timely information by farming communities is perceived as a major drawback in the development of agriculture in Kenya. Subsequently, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MoALF) has promoted the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to improve farmers‟ access to information and rapidly transform the delivery of agricultural extension services to them. The initiatives promoted include; mobile telephony, web based network and National Farmers Information Service (NAFIS) as channels of delivering extension messages to farmers. Since the introduction of ICT based information channels in provision of agricultural extension services in 2000, no empirical study has been conducted to assess how the farmers‟ access and utilise them and also examine the factors influencing these outcomes. The purpose of this study therefore was to assess selected factors that influence access and utilization of the MoALF‟s used ICTs in order to inform strategies of widening use of ICTs in agriculture. A cross sectional survey with expost-facto design was adopted. Correct sampling was done to allow generalisation to other people, times and contexts and hence giving it external validity. A total of 110 respondents from 4 locations of Bahati Division, Nakuru North Subcounty, Nakuru County. Were selected and interviewed. A questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions was used to collect data while secondary information was used to supplement the responses that had gaps. The questionnaire was subjected to scrutiny by professionals in the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension to assess the content, construct, criterion and face validity. Analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 software. Descriptive statistics used for analysis included modal distribution, means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages. Chi Square statistical tests were applied for testing relevant hypotheses and inferences interpreted at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that farmers in this area relied on MoALF extension agents for agricultural information provided during field days, trade fairs, shows, office visits among other platforms. They also preferred information availed through mass media such as radio and televisions. Radio and mobile phones were common in most households though not used for acquisition of agriculture related information. Farmers in the study area received agricultural related information weekly, monthly and only a few on daily basis. There was generally low farmers‟ knowledge and usage of mainly computer and internet based ICT platforms in the study area. The farmer‟s age, gender and level of education were not significant determinants to the utilisation of MoALF information platforms. Farmers who had connection to electricity seemed to have been enjoying more services of NAFIS, use of phones and radio to access MoALF services. There was a significant association between distance travelled to access an extension worker and the utilisation of MoALF website and NAFIS services unlike the case for radio and mobile. These findings may inform policy makers at the MoALF to review the content and reassess the suitability of these channels as alternative extension delivery avenues. Further, consider involving target users in development of such future initiatives in order to meet and fulfill the potential of communication technology