Abstract:
This paper explores how a wide range of Information and Communication Technologies
(ICTs) available in Agricultural Research Institutes (ARIs) if used effectively by agriculture
researchers can improve agriculture productivity in Tanzania. A structured questionnaire and
telephonic interviews were used to collect data from a randomly selected sample of 64
respondents made up of agricultural researchers, agriculture managers and other agricultural
stakeholders in the selected institutes. Data were analyzed using statistical tools. The results
indicate that ICTs tools are available in ARIs for the day to day research activities. However,
utilization of agriculture journals is very limited due to unreliability and poor connectivity of
the Internet and frequent power cuts. Results also show that the uses of specialized ICT
devices have not taken a great recognition in agriculture activities which is attributed by low
investment of ICTs that can be used for teaching and learning modern agriculture productivity
techniques in institutes under this study. Among the challenges hindering the use of ICTs in
ARIs includes: inadequate computers and the supporting technological infrastructure, lack of
electricity needed to operate computers, unreliable Internet connectivity and lack of
systematic ICTs investment; low coordination of agriculture stakeholders due to institutional
diversity and department fragmentation. This study recommends that the Government of
Tanzania (GoT) should formulate and implement ICT for Agriculture (ICT4A) projects based
on a researched conceptual framework related to ICT4A use and Information and
Communication Management (ICM) in ARIs in Tanzania.
