RIIMS — RUFORUM

Abstract

In this study the challenges of effective use of ICTs to disseminate agricultural information were investigated. The study also sought to determine whether the extent of ICTs usage influenced the quality, timeliness and usefulness of disseminated agricultural information. The research additionally sought to identify socio-economic factors as well as cultural and technical constraints affecting the use of ICTs in the dissemination of agricultural information. The study generated information that can be used by stakeholders to make appropriate policy decisions involving the use of ICTs. The results indicated that socio-economic factors that influenced the use of ICTs included gender, educational level, income and farm size. The findings further indicated that technical factors such as software packages, limited skilled staff and technicians, few ICTs centres and methods of dissemination also influenced the use of ICTs. In addition cultural factors such as beliefs, moral values and religion also influenced the use of ICTs. Among researchers, the most popular methods of dissemination of agricultural information was print media (30%) followed by radio (20%) and TV (15%) while for farmers the most popular methods to access to agricultural information was radio (21.9%) followed by print media (15.33%) and TV (14.6%).

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Subjects

Agricultural research Education Land economics and policies Nature conservation and land resources Rural population Trade, marketing and distribution

Challenges facing research institutions in using information and communication technologies to disseminate agricultural information to farmers in Gezira State, Sudan

Abstract

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