Abstract:
This paper presents findings of a study on the extent to which different
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are used by urban
and peri-urban livestock keepers and factors that affect their use in
accessing information on livestock. A mixed method approach was used to
collect data for assessing the extent of using ICTs for livestock production
and marketing in Kinondoni and Morogoro urban Districts. The findings
revealed that most urban livestock keepers (94.1%) used different ICTs to
access livestock information. Mobile phones were most frequently used
(92.1%) compared to radio (21.7%), television (24.6%) and the internet
(2.4%). Several . factors affected the use of ICTs in accessing livestock
information, some of which are: limited awareness about relevant radio
and television programmes on livestock keeping, high cost of
communication using mobile phones and internet services, and computer
illiteracy. The study concludes that urban livestock keepers use different
ICTs, but there are many impeding factors limiting the potential of this
technology for improving livestock production. The study recommends
improving telecommunications services to facilitate better access to
information using ICTs. Livestock keepers also need to be sensitized to use
ICTs, which should also be integrated into extension services to improve
access making it easier and cheaper to acquire information.
