Abstract:
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in agriculture have the potential to
facilitate greater access to market information and it can connect the rural poor farmers
with well-established markets. The aim of this study was to assess the factors influencing
the use of Information and Communication Technologies in accessing market information
among smallholder farmers in Kilombero District. A cross-sectional research design was
used and data were collected using structured questionnaire, where 120 respondents were
interviewed. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results
reveled that middlemen and traders were the most reliable source of market information
(43.3%) and middlemen are the one who buy the produce from the farmers (79.2%). Also
the findings indicate that 83.3% of the farmers have access to ICTs sources of information
while mobile phone being the source that is mostly accessed (50.7%). The cross tabulation
results (Chi-square test) found that, there was a positive significant (P≤0.05) effect
between access to ICTs sources of information and marital status, sex and income level.
Among all farmers who have access to ICTs source of information, the study found that
only 45% are using the technology in accessing market information where awareness and
poor access and networks being the most challenge among others. The results of the logit
model indicate that sex of the farmers, education level, farmer’s income level, awareness
of the farmers about ICT’s sources of information and access to ICT’s sources of
information are positively significant (P≤0.05) factors influencing the farmers to use ICTs
at 5% significant level. From these findings it is concluded that the mobile phone is the
most ICT’s source of information that is used in rural areas, also most of the smallholder
farmers in Kilombero are not aware of the ICT’s benefits in accessing market information.
Therefore, the government and other agricultural stakeholders should find a way that farmers will be trained and being informed on the new technologies that could help them
accessing market information, promote the availability of reliable power source and
opening up new market. Also Network operators should increase their services in rural
areas with strong signal.
