The information needs of small scale dairy farmers in Tanzania

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Date

1999

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Abstract

The study was undertaken to investigate the information needs of small-scale dairy farmers and various information sources they consulted to resolve their information needs. It involved 71 small-scale dairy farmers from five villages, which were selected through a systematic random sampling from Mbozi district. Personal interviews were used to gather data from small-scale dairy farmers. Small scale dairy farmers were found to be in need of information on livestock feeds availability and feeding techniques (97.2%), parasite and disease control (83.1%), general animal husbandry (81.7%), heat detection and breeding techniques (43.7%) and information on milk marketing (39.4%). In resolving their information needs it was found that attending extension meetings and extension worker visits were the most dependable information sources used by the majority of farmers. The use of agricultural libraries as an information source was very uncommon to the majority of the respondents with the major reason being lack of such a service.

Description

IAALD Quarterly Bulletin 1999, XLIV (3/4): 173-176

Keywords

Information needs, Small scale dairy farmers, Mbozi district, Information sources

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