Contribution of mobile telephony to the performance of agriculture-based small and medium enterprises in Ulanga district
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Date
2014
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study assessed the contribution of mobile telephony to the performance of
agriculture based small and medium enterprises in Ulanga District Specifically, the study
examined the innovative uses of mobile telephony in agriculture based SMEs; identified
factors associated with usage of mobile telephony; mapped the nexus between mobile
telephony usage and agriculture based SMEs activities; and established the extent to
which mobile telephony contribute to the performance of agriculture based SMEs. Both
multi-stage and purposive sampling techniques were used to obtain 104 questionnaire
respondents and 40 FGD participants. Quantitative data were collected using
questionnaires whereas qualitative data were collected using Focus group discussions
(FGDs). Quantitative data were analyzed by using SPSS and qualitative data were
analyzed using content analysis technique. The study findings revealed that beeping,
loudspeaker, camera and voice recording were innovative applications of mobile phones;
mobile phones’ usage was mainly enhanced by good mobile network coverage and
mainly constrained by frequent cut-off of electricity; and uses of mobile phones had
significantly increased profit, sales volume, operating efficiency, managerial and
customers’ satisfaction ratings. It is concluded that uses of mobile phones contributed to
the performance of agriculture based SMEs. It is recommended that the government and
private sectors should take the charge of providing reliable electricity services and owners
of SMEs need to increase usage of mobile telephony commercially than for social
contacts in order to realize better performance.
Description
MA.- Dissertation in Rural Development
Keywords
Mobile telephony, Ulanga district, Small-medium enterprises