Machila, Noreen (author), Emongor, Rosemary (author), Shaw, Alexandra P. (author), Welburn, Susan C. (author), McDermott, John (author), Maudlin, Ian (author), and Eisler, Mark C. (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2007-05
Published:
Kenya: Elsevier
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 161 Document Number: D07794
Sampong, D.D. (author), Egyir, I.S. (author), and Yaw, Osei-Asare (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2007
Published:
Ghana
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 102 Document Number: D10923
Notes:
Paper presented at the African Association of Agricultural Economists second international conference, Accra, Guana, August 20-22, 2007. 4 pages., The traditional way of information dissemination has been through people; the modern way is through the electronic media – improved information and communication technologies (ICTs). For effectiveness, modern ICTs should help women to improve on their income generating capacity. Issues of level of resource capacity of women, information needed, and current sources of such information become important. This study sought to investigate the issues above with respect to rural women food producers in the Mfantsiman District of Ghana. Simple descriptive statistics and econometric models were employed in the data analysis of 91 randomly selected respondents. The results of the study showed that: In general, the women food producers were aged, subsistence food crop farmers. They depended on the natural rainfall cycle and had inadequate funds, so they use traditional inputs for production and sell surpluses in the community. The most important agricultural information needed was on inputs, specifically, low cost in-kind or cash credit. Currently, the major information sources are relatives and other farmers in the locality, agricultural extension agents, the radio and television. This suggests that the women food producers have low resource capacity and this could limit the adoption of modern ICTs as a source of and media for information dissemination. Yet, the regression results show that the few (6) mobile phone users have a higher income generating capacity. In order to improve on capacity to use modern ICTs for increased access to other resources, women farmers’ should organize themselves into formidable groups so local institutions can assist easily.
"The debate on how to start and sustain the media network by journlists and other network members generated simmering controversy because of past experiences of unfulfilled expectations and shattered hopes."
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 160 Document Number: C26287
Notes:
Via Radio Netherlands Worldwide. 2 pages., Describes expansion of a program begun in 2002 whereby publishers make information available on the Internet to scientists in developing countries, free or almost free of charge. "Information charity."
