Abstract:
This study sought to investigate factors that influence the use of mobile phones in the
communication of agricultural information in Kilolo district. The study examined the
use of mobile phones as a means for achieving agricultural development. The study
population comprised all farmers regardless their mobile phone ownership. The study
adapted a cross sectional study design and a multistage simple random sampling
technique, where, 384 respondents were selected. Data were mainly collected using
an interview schedule. The results revealed that majority of respondents used mobile
phones and had positive attitude on the contribution of mobile phone in their farming
business. The study had three hypotheses to be tested: mobile phones ownership have
no statistical significant influence in communicating agricultural information;
different types of agricultural information have no statistical significant influence on
mobile phones use in communicating agricultural information and; respondents’
socio-economic factors have no statistical significant influence on mobile phones use
in communicating agricultural information. The study results indicated that mobile
phones offered an attractive solution to farmers’ informational needs. Factors
specified to have an influence on mobile phone use in the communication of
agricultural information included: mobile phone ownership, type of agricultural
information, farming system practiced, network coverage, respondents’ demographic
characteristics, and time of mobile phone ownership. As such, all the three
hypotheses were rejected. The study concluded that the use of mobile phone to
communicate agriculture information depend on mobile phone ownership, type of
agricultural information to be communicated and individuals’ socio-economic factors.iii
The study therefore recommended that many farmers be encouraged and supported so
that they become access to and use mobile phones in their farming business.
