Information and communication technologies (ICTs) : the potential for enhancing the dissemination of agricultural information and services to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa
dc.contributor.author | Mapiye, Obvious | |
dc.contributor.author | Makombe, Godswill | |
dc.contributor.author | Molotsi, Annelin | |
dc.contributor.author | Dzama, Kennedy | |
dc.contributor.author | Mapiye, Cletos | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2023-05-08T10:43:34Z | |
dc.date.available | 2023-05-08T10:43:34Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2023-09 | |
dc.description.abstract | The transformation of smallholder farming is poised to be one of the key drivers of achieving the dual objectives of food security and poverty reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Smallholder farmers account for between 60–80% of the food produced in the region but face many challenges that impede their productivity. Such challenges include a lack of timely access to appropriate agricultural information and services, which results in poor decision-making, particularly in addressing challenges and responding effectively to opportunities. In that context, the effective use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in improving accessibility to appropriate agricultural information and services presents substantial prospects for transforming the productivity and livelihoods of the farmers. Currently, the region experiences massive penetration and propagation of mobile and web-based applications. However, there is a dearth of compelling, comprehensive reviews evaluating their importance in enhancing agricultural information and services dissemination to smallholder farmers. Therefore, the current review explores the potential of enhancing agricultural information and services dissemination to smallholder farmers through ICTs and highlights gaps in their development and deployment in SSA. Five existing mobile applications used to disseminate agricultural information and services to smallholder farmers were identified, and their advantages, limitations, and opportunities were discussed. These were Esoko, iCow, Community Knowledge Workers, WeFarm and DigiFarm. The development and deployment of user-driven mobile applications that provide curated skill-sharing platforms, encourage farmers to give feedback to extension systems in real-time and promote the participation of women and youth in agriculture are recommended. | en_US |
dc.description.department | Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) | en_US |
dc.description.librarian | hj2023 | en_US |
dc.description.sponsorship | The Ph.D. study funding financed through the "Seed initiatives fund from the Division of Social Impact at Stellenbosch University and the National Research Fund-Thuthuka of South Africa. | en_US |
dc.description.uri | http://idv.sagepub.com | en_US |
dc.identifier.citation | Mapiye, O., Makombe, G., Molotsi, A., Dzama, K., & Mapiye, C. (2023). Information and communication technologies (ICTs): The potential for enhancing the dissemination of agricultural information and services to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Information Development, 39(3), 638-658. https://doi.org/10.1177/02666669211064847. | en_US |
dc.identifier.issn | 0266-6669 (print) | |
dc.identifier.issn | 1741-6469 (online) | |
dc.identifier.other | 10.1177/02666669211064847 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/90587 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | Sage | en_US |
dc.rights | © The Author(s) 2021 | en_US |
dc.subject | Information and communication technology (ICT) | en_US |
dc.subject | Smallholder farmers | en_US |
dc.subject | Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) | en_US |
dc.subject | Mobile application | en_US |
dc.subject | Agricultural information dissemination | en_US |
dc.title | Information and communication technologies (ICTs) : the potential for enhancing the dissemination of agricultural information and services to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa | en_US |
dc.type | Postprint Article | en_US |