The adoption and use of ICT by small scale farmers in Gezira State, Sudan
Abstract
169 words
In Sudan common sources of agricultural information that have been used are the radio, television,
extension, magazines, newspapers and face-to-face communication. This paper sought to
identify the key factors that influence the use of ICT and the challenges of ICT adoption for
disseminating agricultural information among farmers in Sudan’s Gezira State. Socio-economic,
cultural influences, technical shortcomings of information providers, and the age of farmers
were related to the adoption and use of ICT. The most popular means of access to agricultural
information were print media, friends, neighbours, agrochemical companies, research stations
and extension officers with more than 50% respondents followed by radio (21.9%), TV (14.6%),
internet (3.3%) and mobile phone above 10 %. Thus, radio was the most popular ICT facility.
The most common challenges to the adoption of ICT by farmers were low education levels,
low income, cultural inertia, inadequate ICT skills among researchers and shortage of electricity.
The scarcity of relevant content in local languages was also cited as a hurdle to adoption and
use of ICT.
Subjects
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