Abstract:
Mobile Applications are some of the most recent entries among other information and communication technology (ICT) tools used by farmers to access extension services. Mobile applications have fiiendly attributes and have become one of the most promising channels for sharing agricultural information. The current channels for information dissemination to farmers such as TV, radio, websites, print media and public gatherings are mostly non- interactive and partially reliable. The information disseminated using such channels are generally not customized to specific farmers’ needs. The aim of this study was to determine the most preferred social media (WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, lnstagram and YouTube), its usability attributes; as well as the barriers to integration of social media in dissemination of agricultural information. A descriptive research design utilizing a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 149 respondents. The respondents were selected through purposive sampling technique from a population of farmers, extension staff, lecturers and students enrolled in agricultural courses participating in the Fann Attachment Program of Egerton University. Friedman test was used to determine the mean rank of the most preferred social media while probit regression was used to analyse expected probability of social media adoption. Multiple responses analysis was used to analyse the barriers hindering successful adoption of social media. The findings show that WhatsApp mobile application was the most preferred with mean rank of 4.08. Usefulness (Coef =0.949, p<0.05), Flexibility (Coef. =0.202, p<0.05), Self-efficay (Coef = 1.818, p<0.0l) and Access to Internet (Coef = 0.116, p<0.l) were the main usability attributes of social media. Poor mobile network (18%), lack of adequate ICT skills (15%) and awareness (15%) among the agricultural stakeholders are some of the major barriers. Agricultural soflware engineers should develop mobile applications with usability attributes to enhance its uptake and use. There is need for mobile phone operator companies in Kenya to improve mobile network coverage and county govemments should progressively facilitate farmers and extension staff with modem communication technologies accessible through mobile phones for sharing agricultural information and training them on how to use.
