Montoya, Francisco G. (author), Gómez, Julio (author), Cama, Alejandro (author), Zapata-Sierra, Antonio (author), Martínez, Felipe (author), De La Cruz, José Luis (author), and Manzano-Agugliaro, Francisco (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2013-11
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 159 Document Number: D07694
13 pages., Article #: 3FEA2, via online journal., A multiple indicators, multiple causes, or MIMIC, modeling framework can be used for analyzing a variety of farmer decision-making situations where multiple outcomes are possible. Example applications include analyses of farmer use of multiple information sources, management practices, or technologies. We applied the framework to analyze use of multiple information sources by beef cattle farmers. We provide measures of how farmer demographics, farm characteristics, and risk attitudes influenced farmer use of information from Extension, producer groups, popular press, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Internet, and other farmers. Education and greater willingness to take risk positively influenced information use among the farmers we studied. Our process has implications for broader use within Extension.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C16303
Notes:
Chapter 6 in Rafiq Dossani (ed.), Telecommunications reform in India. Quorum Books, Westport, Connecticut. 258 pages., Author describes a proposal wherein the state should build 5,000 communications centers or "work centers" and link these to the rail and fiber infrastructures. Every citizen can access a telephone, the Internet, health care and education. "People stay within the traditional semirural or rural infrastructure, within their 'circle,' rather than moving away from their families to the overcrowded cities."
Wandersee, Cassie (author) and Baker, Lauri (author)
Format:
Paper abstract
Publication Date:
2018-02
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 199 Document Number: D10018
Notes:
Abstract of paper presented at the National Agricultural Communications Symposium, Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS) Agricultural Communications Section, Jacksonville, Florida, February 4-5, 2018.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 178 Document Number: C35770
Notes:
"The Farm Journalist"series via online. 2 pages., Discusses agricultural journalists' use of new information technologies. "The challenge is not that of attempting to use all available technology but of selecting those parts offering the highest probability of working best for us."
12 pages., In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), declining soil fertility is among the factors affecting optimal food production. Although a number of interventions have been implemented to improve soil fertility management (SFM) in SSA, their adoption especially among small scale farmers has been low. Although the literature provides considerable evidence of socio-economic factors which influence adoption, the subject of how communication influences adoption of SFM remains under-explored. This paper therefore reviewed studies on SFM communication in SSA. The objectives were to identify the current focus of studies on SFM communication, the current definitions of communication which informed such studies, and the type of SFM practices being communicated in the SSA region. Using specific search terms, articles were collected from various databases and content analysed. The review revealed five main themes as the focus of current studies on SFM. The study also revealed two main interpretations of communication which in turn influence the use of either diffusion or participatory communication strategies for SFM communication. The review also showed a focus on integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) messages in the SSA area. The study concludes that while each of the two communication strategies has their individual strengths, farmers prefer participatory strategies. This is because participatory strategies foster interaction and greater understanding; thereby, increasing the likelihood of farmer adoption of SFM practices in SSA. The review concludes by calling for further research on the use of participatory communication to engage farmers about various SFM practices in SSA.
