Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 186 Document Number: D00685
Notes:
Pages 108-114 in Sunday Odedele (ed.), Public relations and communication management in Africa. Public Relations for Africa, Lagos, Nigeria. 184 pages. Via online.
17 pages., This study examined the effectiveness of the channels used to deliver agricultural information and knowledge to smallholder farmers in Tanzania. A descriptive cross-sectional design alongside quantitative and qualitative approaches was employed to collect data from 341 respondents. While the data collected through the questionnaire was analysed by using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 21, the data collected through the interview was analysed by using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that delivery of and access to timely and relevant agricultural information and knowledge, appropriately packaged, is one of the critical problems undermining smallholder farmers’ efforts to increase their production. As a result, most smallholder farmers mainly depend on informal channels. Besides informal channels, farmer groups and demonstration plots are becoming popular channels to deliver and access agricultural information and knowledge. To make a difference in agricultural production, deliberate efforts should be made to enhance the delivery of agricultural information and knowledge.
International: African Council for Communication Education, Nairobi, Kenya.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 117 Document Number: C12775
Notes:
Chapter 5 in S.T. Kwame Boafo and Nancy A. George (eds.), Communication research in Africa: issues and perspectives. African Council for Communication Education, Nairobi, Kenya. 1992. 161 p.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C17078
Notes:
Pages 151-162 in Wilbur Schramm and Daniel Lerner (eds.), Communication and change: the last ten years - and the next. University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu. 372 pages.
9 pages, This study investigates how communication channels to exchange agricultural information were chosen. Specifically, it identifies the communication channels used by farmers in Tanzania and determines the factors influencing the choice of communication channels for exchanging agricultural information. The study employs a meta-analysis review methodology in identifying, evaluating and interpreting studies relevant to the topic of interest. The results indicate that radio, mobile phones, television, fellow farmers, agricultural extension agents and newspapers were the commonly used communication channels for transferring agricultural information. Moreover, the channels’ influence, availability, affordability, communication network coverage, and the resources and facilities needed to use a particular communication channel were found to influence the choice of channels. It is concluded that understanding the audience, the characteristics surrounding messages and choosing appropriate communication channels are important for enhancing access to agricultural information. It is recommended that agricultural information providers should understand the factors surrounding communication channels before disseminating agricultural information
