Browsing by Author "Lamtane, H."

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Challenges associated with the use of information and communication technologies in information sharing by fish farmers in the Southern highlands of Tanzania
(Emerald, 2020) Dulle, F. W.; Lamtane, H.; Benard, R.
Purpose – 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. Design/methodology/approach – 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. Findings – 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. Originality/value – 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.
The influence of ICT usage in sharing information on fish farming productivity in the southern highlands of Tanzania
(The International Journal Of Science & Technoledge, 2018-02) Benard, R.; Dulle, F.; Lamtane, H.
The use of ICTs in sharing information is very important in enhancing fish farming productivity among fish farmers. However, little is known on the linkage that exists between the use of ICTs and fish farming productivity in southern highlands of Tanzania. This study was conducted in three regions namely; Ruvuma, Mbeya and Iringa and involved twelve divisions purposively selected from six districts. The study involved 240 fish farmers who were randomly selected; it employed a cross section research design. The study used both quantitative and qualitative approaches in collecting data. Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), observation and key informants interview were used to collect data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data while content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Findings indicate that mobile phone, radio and television were the most used ICTs tools among fish farmers for sharing agricultural information. In addition, the study revealed a higher fish farming productivity in Mbinga and Mufindi districts as compared to Iringa District. Moreover, the use of ICTs (radio, mobile phones and television) for sharing agricultural information was found to influence fish productivity. Furthermore, other factors including income, family size, use of poultry manure as pond fertilizer and pond size had a statistical significant and positive relationship with farmer’s productivity. Thus, it is recommended that the media owners and other information providers should disseminate more agricultural programmes related to fish farming practices and make sure that such information is disseminated during appropriate and convenient time for farmers.
Use of ICTS in sharing agricultural information among fish farmers in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania
(Scecsal, 2018) Benard, R.; Dulle, F.; Lamtane, H.
This paper assesses the use of ICTs in sharing agricultural information among fish farmers in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. The main objective of the study was to assess the use of ICTs among fish farmers in sharing agricultural information. Specifically, the study focused on: assessing types of ICTs preferred by fish farmers in sharing agricultural information; determining the degree of ICTs usage among fish farmers in sharing agricultural information; and examining the influence of socioeconomic characteristics on fish farmer’s ICTs preferences. The study was carried out in twelve purposeful selected divisions in six districts of the three regions of Southern Highland of Tanzania namely Ruvuma, Mbeya and Iringa. It involved 240 fish farmers who were randomly selected. The study employed a cross section research design and used quantitative and qualitative research approaches in collecting data. The employed questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion, observation and key informants interview in data collection. Quantitative data were analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of SPSS version 20 while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The study found that mobile phones, radio and television were most used by the fish farmers in sharing agricultural information while the internet was least used. Likewise, results showed that television was the most preferred ICT tool by fish farmers in information sharing. Further results showed that ownership of television had a positive significant relationship with the farmers’ preferences toward its usage at probability level of 0.005. Moreover, the paper concluded 554and recommended that since ICT tools play an important role in communicating and sharing relevant and current agricultural knowledge and information to farmer’s communities, the Government should support fish farmers by subsidizing some costs that more fish farmers can acquire and use them.