No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the author.
Use of mobile phones among agro-pastoralist communities in Tanzania
Abstract
The study examined the usage of mobile phones among agro-pastoralists in Monduli and Bagamoyo districts in Tanzania. The study used a mixed approach in collecting and analysing the resultant data. The study’s findings reveal that individual and technology characteristics are important factors for mobile phone ownership and usage among agro-pastoralists. Further, the findings suggest that effective use of mobile phones presents a huge opportunity for improving information access for agro-pastoralist communities, so supporting their poverty reduction programs. Accordingly, usage of mobile phone technologies can offset some of the effects of neglected rural infrastructure and make rural development sustainable and competitive. The study concludes that there is an urgent need to re-think and re-orient the development thrust and deploy mobile phones to address business transaction and information access problems and supplement development-related information provided by other media.
... We distinguish three types of perceived usefulness for social relations that correspond to the three types of social capital reported by Woolcock (1998), namely: bonding relations in connection with keeping in touch with family members during mobility (Kabbiri et al., 2018;Mwantimwa, 2019); bridging relations in connection with keeping in touch with cattle owners for providing information and consolidating the trust (Butt, 2015;Parlasca et al., 2020); and linking relations in connection with interacting with authorities and herders associations leaders for preventing or resolving conflicts (Djohy et al., 2017;Mertz et al., 2016). We postulate that perceived usefulness of mobile phone for bonding, bridging, and linking social relations are likely to respectively increase the number of weekly calls, as far as these three domains of usages sollicitate frequent mobile phone uses for calls. ...
... In this case, mobile phones help the herders to maintain contacts with their families and receive home news during mobility or receive remittances when they are around home, returning from mobility. These results confirm some studies mentioning the usefulness of mobile phone for the herders in communicating with families and relatives and also in receiving remittances via mobile money (Baird and Hartter, 2017;Mwantimwa, 2019). But our study pointed out a case of receiving food as remittances rather than money transfer. ...
... These results confirm previous studies postulate that perceived ease of use of a technology has a positive influence on its adoption (Davis, 1989). Specifically, the perceived ease of use for access among the herders with its positive effect reveals that mobile phone operators have increasingly developed infrastructures and services in Benin, including surveyed herders' localities, removing then some major barriers (Mwantimwa, 2019;Parlasca et al., 2020). For example, the services offered by mobile phone network operators included airtime transfer between users and "call me back" free messaging services that ease access and promote appropriation of its communicative function among herders. ...
The study aims to analyze the appropriation of mobile phones among the Fulani Pastoralists in the Northern Benin. A multidimensional approach of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was adopted. In total, 380 Fulani pastoralists were surveyed. Data was collected through a questionnaire on the total number of weekly calls, the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, and the perceived usefulness and the perceived ease of use. A 5-point Likert scale was used to measure the perceived usefulness and the perceived ease of use considering the multiple dimensions identified. The linear regression model is used for the analysis of determinants of the total number of weekly calls. Results show a dual appropriation of mobile phone with regard to its usage for communicative function and/or distractive function. These results suggest that the mobile phone-based livestock advisory services using pre-recorded audio and video materials are promising within these herders’ communities.
... As widely reported, proper use of agricultural information enables farmers to adopt and/or adapt to new and improved practices that enhance yields and incomes (Soyemi and Haliso, 2015). Other scholars (e.g., Mwantimwa, 2019;Silayo, 2016;Mtega et al., 2016;Gunasekera and Miranda, 2011;Lwoga et al., 2011) have noted that access to agricultural information can also influence change and engender progress in the agricultural sector by empowering people with the ability to make informed decisions pertaining to value-adding agricultural production. In support of this view, the study by Kaske et al. (2017) suggests that if we are to see substantial development in the agricultural sector, we have to ensure farmers' access to timely, reliable, and relevant agricultural information. ...
... One of the notable efforts made is the formulation of the National Information and Communications Technology Policy in 2013 and its subsequent amendment in 2016 with the aim of transforming the nation's subsistence agricultural sector into a commercialised one (United Republic of Tanzania, 2016). Another of these efforts in the government's establishment of community telecentres in Lugoba, Mpwapwa, Ngara, Dakawa, Kilosa, Mtwara, and Kasulu to ensure that smallholder farmers, especially those with minimal access to telecommunication services, access agricultural information (Ndimbwa et al., 2019;Mwantimwa, 2019, Lwoga et al., 2011. Furthermore, the government provides training to extension officers who are then deployed across the country where they facilitate smallholder farmers' access to reliable and timely agricultural information to boost their production. ...
... Despite these substantial interventions and initiatives aimed to improve access to and use of agricultural information among smallholder farmers in Tanzania, the delivery of these resources remains largely poor (Mwantimwa, 2019(Mwantimwa, , 2017. Regarding this, Nyamba (2017) informs that although the importance of agricultural information to smallholder farmers is well documented, most farmers in developing countries such as Tanzania lack access. ...
Introduction. Rural smallholder farmers’ satisfaction with the agricultural information they access has only attracted insufficient attention from researchers. As such, this study had to explore the farmers’ satisfaction with this type of information in rural Tanzania.
Method. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design alongside quantitative and qualitative approaches. In the study, a sample of 341 respondents comprising 318 conveniently selected smallholder farmers and 23 purposively drawn key informants was used.
Analysis. Quantitative data from the questionnaire survey used were analysed using descriptive statistics whereas qualitative data from interviews and focus group discussions were subjected to thematic analysis.
Results. The findings of the study suggest that smallholder farmers’ satisfaction with agricultural information depends on its type, relevance, and timeliness. However, there are various factors that undermine farmers’ satisfaction with the information. These include inadequacy of extension officers, untimely and unreliable information and sources, information access and use related costs, and language problems.
Conclusion. Smallholder farmers’ satisfaction with agricultural information fosters uptake of innovative farming techniques which translates into sustainable agricultural production.
... In this regard, Nyamba (2017) asserts that most farmers in Tanzania lack access to accurate and relevant agricultural information and knowledge. This is despite studies (see Mtega, 2017;Mwantimwa, 2019;Siyao, 2012) revealing that the production of agricultural knowledge by different agencies and institutions is good enough to meet current needs. The question is: What and how effective are the channels used to deliver agricultural information and knowledge to smallholder farmers? ...
... Some studies (for example, Levi, 2015;Odongo, 2014) propose that effective channels are those that are used to deliver agricultural information and knowledge to smallholder farmers at the right time and in a user-friendly manner. The radio (Myers, 2010), mobile phones, the Internet and television appear to be more effective channels for delivering relevant and timely agricultural information and knowledge to farmers (Aldosari et al., 2017;Chhachhar et al., 2014;Mkenda et al., 2017;Mwantimwa, 2019;Ndimbwa et al., 2019;Otter and Thruvsen, 2014;Raza et al., 2020). Briggeman and Whitacre (2010) report that the Internet was used effectively to deliver weather forecasts and market price information to farmers in the USA in a timely manner. ...
... Generally, the findings suggest that radio, television, training, meetings, extension officers and interpersonal communication (between friends, neighbours or fellow farmers) were the channels used to deliver agricultural information and knowledge, as other studies corroborate (see, for example, Mtega and Ngoepe, 2018;Mwantimwa, 2019). In addition, other channels, such as demonstration plots, farmer field schools, field days, agricultural shows and farm groups, were also used. ...
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.
... Therefore, to understand the contribution of ICTs to system resilience, one can analyse the impact of ICTs on each sub-property of resilience (Ospina & Heeks, 2010;. This is operationalised by evaluating the contribution of ICTs against specific characteristics -"markers" or "indicators" -of each resilience sub-property (see Table B4) (Ospina & Heeks, 2015;2019). For example, to analyse the contribution of ICTs to system robustness, three key markers are considered: physical preparedness, institutional capacity, and loose functional coupling. ...
... Only two sources gave evidence of ICTs facilitating household rapid issue assessment, mainly by enhancing the speed at which households make market-related decisions (e.g. changing produce prices, changing buyers (Ajwang, 2014;Mwantimwa, 2019)). ...
... This may relate to the requirement for complementary resources in order to turn data into resilience impacts. Such complementarities are least-required for mobile phones when used as simple communication devices (Mtega & Msungu, 2013;Mwantimwa, 2019;Sife et al., 2010). But this communicative simplicity has rather limited the impact of these devices on robustness (to some extent strengthening institutional capacities and physical preparedness) (Mittal & Tripathi, 2009;Ogunniyi & Ojebuyi, 2016;Shaffril et al., 2015). ...
Agriculture remains the dominant sector for rural areas in developing countries. However, short-term shocks (e.g. conflict, economic crisis) and long-term trends (e.g. climate change) hamper and can even reverse attempted gains in agricultural productivity and related rural development outcomes. Influenced by the current sustainable development paradigm, it is increasingly acknowledged that, to address this, rural households and communities must strengthen their resilience.
Given their growing role in rural livelihoods, information and communication technologies (ICTs) will be a key part of resilience-building. Yet we currently know very little about this. To address this knowledge gap, a systematic literature review was undertaken to establish two things. First, the extent to which use of ICTs-in-agriculture (ICT4Ag) is weakening or strengthening the resilience of rural households and communities in developing countries. Second, an explanation of why the observed impacts are occurring.
Measuring resilience using the RABIT (Resilience Assessment Benchmarking and Impact Toolkit) framework, current reported evidence suggests ICTs are strengthening rural resilience far more than weakening it. However, the impact is highly uneven. Household resilience is built far more than community resilience, and there is a strong differential impact across different resilience attributes: equality in particular is reported as being undermined almost as much as enhanced. A new conceptual model is inductively created to explain some of these outcomes. It highlights the importance of individual user motivations, complementary resources required to make ICT4Ag systems support resilience, and the role of wider systemic factors such as institutions and structural relations.
The paper draws policy/practice conclusions: more equal focus on both household- and community-level resilience, more attention to the resilience-weakening potential of ICTs, ensuring perceived utility of digital applications among rural users, encouraging use of more complex ICT4Ag systems, and looking beyond the technology to make parallel, complementary changes in resource provision and development of rural institutions and social structures. Conclusions are also drawn about the conceptualisation of resilience: better incorporation of agency and power, and greater clarity on resilience system boundaries and indicators.
Overall, we contribute new frameworks, new evidence, new practical guidance and a research agenda for those seeking to strengthen rural resilience through use of ICTs.
... Surprisingly, few of the reviewed studies have reported mobile phones as tools for enhancing firms' business processes and innovation (Krone, Schumacher, & Dannenberg, 2014). In fact, mobile phones are multi-purpose communication tools, which facilitate various firms' business processes (Mwantimwa, 2019). ...
... In other words, financial constraints deter the accessibility of ICTs and limit capacity building among firms. In fact, low ICTs' savvy undermines firms' innovativeness in areas such as marketing, processing, organisation, and product development and improvement (Mwantimwa, 2019). ...
... In fact, the tools have penetrated all types of firms where they support diverse business activities. The explanations for this are threefold: firstly, mobile phone prices are dwindling; secondly, the tools contain multiple useful functionalities; and finally, the technology is user friendly and easy to learn compared to computers which are more knowledge and skills demanding (Mwantimwa, 2019). When it comes to the most important ICTs in supporting diverse innovations; computers, mobile phones, and the Internet are highly rated by respondents while computer software and websites are moderately rated. ...
This study examined the usage of ICTs to enhance business processes in Tanzania. In particular, the study examined the types of ICTs deployed to enhance business processes and the processes they support, determinants of ICTs' viable usage, and barriers to their effective usage. Descriptive cross-sectional design using surveys was deployed to gather qualitative and quantitative data from 182 firms. Quantitative data were analysed with using SPSS IBM 22 to generate descriptive and inferential statistics results. Besides that, a thematic and content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data which was thereafter presented in narration form. The findings revealed that mobile phones, computers, the Internet and other network systems, and social media are perceived as important in boosting business efficiency related to material, product processing, management activities, service and marketing. The findings further disclose that financial capital has a multiplying effect on other ICTs' usage determinants such as knowledge and expertise, and ICT infrastructure investments. Regarding a firm's profile, the findings indicate that the size of a firm and its source of raw materials strongly predict its innovative usage of ICTs. The results also revealed the barriers to innovative usage of ICTs and suggest that for business processes to be meaningful, a balanced deployment of ICTs should be done with proper consideration of all enabling elements.
... By utilizing agricultural information effectively, farmers can adopt new and improved practices that lead to higher yields and increased incomes (Soyemi & Haliso, 2015). Furthermore, access to agricultural information can drive change and progress within the agricultural sector by empowering smallholder farmers to make informed decisions regarding value-adding agricultural production (Mwantimwa, 2019;Mtega et al., 2016;Gunasekera & Miranda, 2011). Farmers require timely, reliable, and relevant agricultural information at various stages of production (Mbwangu, 2018), including crop selection, production techniques, agricultural equipment, inputs, markets, postharvest technology, access to credit and others (Mkenda et al., 2017;Mishra & Bhatta, 2021a). ...
... Studies (Meitei & Devi, 2009;Brhane et al., 2017;Mishra & Bhatta, 2021a) access to context specific information (Nyamba, 2017). Studies (Mtega, 2017;Mwantimwa, 2019;Siyao, 2012) reported information from different sources in not being able to meet the information need of farmers. Information from agrovet and fellow farmers has limitations and in most cases is inadequate and inaccurate to meet the information need. ...
... Thanks to mobile phones, farmers are now able to contact market brokers and clients directly to sell their produce at a good price (Siaw, Jiang, Twumasi, & Agbenyo, 2020). Many studies have identified potential mechanisms underlying the positive relationship between phone use and agricultural productivity, such as the use of mobile phones to connect farmers to buyers (Martin & Abbott, 2011), acquire farm inputs (Asif, Uddin, Dev, & Miah, 2017), reduce transaction costs and time associated with agricultural activities (Mwantimwa, 2019), and exchange agricultural information and recommendations (Mwantimwa, 2019). For instance, a farmer may use his phone to contact a fertilizer supplier in town, purchase fertilizer, and then hire assistance in transporting the fertilizer to the farm, saving both time and money. ...
... Thanks to mobile phones, farmers are now able to contact market brokers and clients directly to sell their produce at a good price (Siaw, Jiang, Twumasi, & Agbenyo, 2020). Many studies have identified potential mechanisms underlying the positive relationship between phone use and agricultural productivity, such as the use of mobile phones to connect farmers to buyers (Martin & Abbott, 2011), acquire farm inputs (Asif, Uddin, Dev, & Miah, 2017), reduce transaction costs and time associated with agricultural activities (Mwantimwa, 2019), and exchange agricultural information and recommendations (Mwantimwa, 2019). For instance, a farmer may use his phone to contact a fertilizer supplier in town, purchase fertilizer, and then hire assistance in transporting the fertilizer to the farm, saving both time and money. ...
Mobile phone usage has come to play a vital role in the enhancement of farmers’ agriculture business. Currently, the adoption of mobile phone technology is considered an important factor in enhancing farmers' access to knowledge of the agricultural market situation. This paper studies the determinants of smartphone adoption in agricultural production and examines the roles smartphone use plays in promoting agricultural firms’ performance. We collected research data from 389 agricultural households in Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam. We considered the impacts of both farmer and farm characteristics on the adoption of smartphones in agriculture. The farmers’ characteristics we examined included the influences of age, education, and gender. For the farm characteristics, we considered the impacts of farm size, farm diversification, and farm location. Using the PLS-SEM method, the results showed that gender had no impact on household smartphone adoption in agricultural production, while education, farm size, farm diversification, and farm location each had a positive effect on smartphone adoption. Farmer age and farm location both impeded smartphone adoption. In addition, as per our expectation, the use of smartphones in agricultural production helped increase the farm’s financial performance. Based on these findings, we offer suggestions to policymakers and researchers in the field of agriculture technologies.
... This channel is vital especially for people residing in remote rural areas (Kikulwe et al., 2014). A few studies show that pastoralists do indeed use mobile phones to send and receive money (Baird & Hartter, 2017;Matsaert et al., 2011;Mwantimwa, 2019;Nilsson & Salazar, 2017;Opiyo et al., 2015;Summers et al., 2020). The mobile phone thereby helps pastoralists save money and improves their ability to manage risks such as droughts, floods, or severe illness (Matsaert et al., 2011;Opiyo et al., 2015). ...
... Although some studies explicitly strive for representativeness at least for a certain subpopulation (e.g. Bauer & Mburu, 2017;Mwantimwa, 2019;Parlasca, Mußhoff, & Qaim, 2020;Schilling et al., 2012), future research should put a higher emphasis on this matter to improve the external validity of quantitative results. ...
Mobile phones fit well into the lives of pastoralists in low‐income countries. The technology is firmly integrated into most pastoralist communities, affecting and transforming several core activities. Most studies concerned with this relationship, however, have narrow regional and thematic foci. The complementarity or discrepancy between relevant research is unknown, and a critical assessment of the current state of research is lacking. This study identifies, summarizes, and analyzes relevant studies, showing that the literature attests generally positive influences of mobile phones although some negative effects also occur. Effects on pastoralists' income, environmental externalities, and gender roles are not yet sufficiently understood.
... The complexity and dynamic nature of formal financial products (Conrad et al., 2020) necessitate the need to understand how indigenous communication systems relate to business funding information availability to agribusiness entrepreneurs in African rural communities (Imhanrenialena et al., 2021a;Obi-Anike et al., 2023). Previous research anchored on the information needs of developing countries particularly African rural areas majorly focused on farmers' agricultural information needs (Phiri et al., 2019;Mwantimwa, 2019) while some other studies focused on Mobile phone access and mobile banking for economic development (Asongu and Odhiambo, 2019; Asongu and Odhiamgo, 2020;Ezeoha et al., 2019). In response to the calls for studies on the potential of African indigenous communication systems to serve as a complementary information dissemination systems to the Western model, this study investigated how indigenous communication systems relate to access to business funding information among agribusiness entrepreneurs in Africa. ...
Many studies have called for research into the potential of African indigenous communication systems to serve as a complementary information dissemination model to the Western model following the deficit of information and communication technology infrastructure in rural areas. As a result, the current research explores how indigenous communication systems influence access to business funding information, and the influence of indigenous communication systems on business funding information utilization. In addition, the study investigated the preferred savings model, payment channel, and mode of obtaining credit facilities among agribusiness entrepreneurs in Nigerian rural areas. The probability sampling method was used in selecting 511 samples from the registered 50,000 smallholder agribusiness entrepreneurs in Edo State for the Central Bank of Nigeria's Anchored Borrower's Programme. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the preferred savings model, payment channel, and mode of obtaining credit facilities among agribusiness entrepreneurs while regression analysis was deployed in testing the hypotheses. The findings indicate that physical cash transactions, informal savings, and informal credit facilities dominant financial services among rural farmers. The outcomes from the test of hypotheses show that indigenous communication systems have a significant influence on access to business funding information among agribusiness entrepreneurs in Nigerian rural areas (β = 0.312, t-value = 7.161 > 1.96, p-value = 0.000 < 0.05, and R2 = 0.498). It was also found that indigenous communication systems significantly influence the utilization of agribusiness funding information in Nigerian rural areas (β = 0.295, t-value = 6.617 > 1.96, p-value = 0.000 < 0.05, and R2 = 0.422). Policy-wise, the study suggests ways financial authorities can leverage on indigenous communication systems to increase financial information literacy for increased access and utilization of business funding information among agribusiness entrepreneurs in Nigerian rural areas.
... The implications of the findings point to the important role of the mobile phone in promoting access to timely, relevant and productive information that has introduced the needed efficiency in the oil palm processing business. Studies by Mwantimwa (2017) and Atiso et al. (2021) have corroborated these findings and underscored the significance of the mobile phone in agricultural and market information dissemination. It is also instructive to note mobile phone's role in promoting interpersonal relationships among actors in the small-scale oil palm processing business. ...
This paper presents a very interesting issue on the question of ICT integration in Ghana’s small-scale agro-processing industry. Its point of departure is that the mobile phone, as an ICT tool, can be positioned to facilitate information sharing, especially in the activities of small-scale processors. The theoretical underpinning for the study was informed by the conceptual framework explaining motivational factors for use of technology. The study therefore sought to document the dynamics of small-scale oil palm processors’ use of the mobile phone in terms of the motivation for its use, value placed on the tool, and how demographic characteristics have influenced its use. It was derived from responses to structured questionnaires administered on 120 small-scale oil palm processors selected from nine communities in the Kwaebibirem Municipality of the Eastern Region, Ghana, using Yamane’s sample size determination approach. Data collected were analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software Version 21.0. The study showed a high rate of mobile phone usage among the small-scale oil palm processors with 81.7% of the respondents indicating that the tool had facilitated their access to information. All the variables, except marital status, were statistically significant at 5% level of significance, with gender, age and education showing positive effect on the use of mobile phones. The major constraint identified by the processors was the lack of access to mobile telecommunication services (89%). The arguments of this paper are that creating an enabling environment holds the key to effective integration of digital technologies in extension information delivery. This will modernise the agricultural extension activities directed at small-scale oil palm processors to make them more efficient.
... Phiri, Chipeta, and Chawinga [61] examined smallholder rural farmers' information needs and sources in Malawi and found crop husbandry as the chief information need of the rural farmers while the predominant information source relied upon by the rural farmers was personal experiences. In the case of Tanzania, the use of mobile phones among pastoral farmers was investigated [62]. The study found that the effective use of mobile phones significantly increased access to pastoral farming information among farmers. ...
... Phiri, Chipeta, and Chawinga [61] examined smallholder rural farmers' information needs and sources in Malawi and found crop husbandry as the chief information need of the rural farmers while the predominant information source relied upon by the rural farmers was personal experiences. In the case of Tanzania, the use of mobile phones among pastoral farmers was investigated [62]. The study found that the effective use of mobile phones significantly increased access to pastoral farming information among farmers. ...
... In order to improve programme quality, by both improved intervention provision, improved communication or assessing inefficiencies, NGOs can consider incorporating the use of technology in interventions, which has been explored in other Sub-Saharan countries. Despite the fact that the Maasai live traditionally, there has been a recent increase in the use of modern technology such as mobile phones in communities [49]. Many of the Maasai communities are already using technology for business as well as getting in touch with members of other bomas [50]. ...
Background
Despite aspects of the SAFE strategy for reducing trachoma in Tanzania have been somewhat successful, the disease still persists in marginalised communities even with repeated trachoma control interventions. This study aims to understand the facilitators and barriers associated with implementing trachoma control programmes in these communities, from the perspective of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Methods
Participants were the representatives of NGOs who had knowledge and experience in the implementation of trachoma control programmes. Data was collected using in-depth, semi-structured interviews guided by a topic guide, which was updated after each interview using a constant comparative method. Interviews were audio-recorded and then transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was done inductively. Codes were generated from the transcripts and then clustered into themes.
Findings
The context within marginalised communities often acted as a perceived barrier to successful implementation of control programmes. This included poor environmental cleanliness, lack of trust, poor disease knowledge and traditional lifestyles. Community values could either be a facilitator or a barrier, depending on the scenario. The anatomical location of the disease and the poor understanding of the disease progression also served as barriers. Considerations affecting decision-making among NGO’s include financial feasibility, community needs and whether the quality of the intervention could be improved. NGOs felt that the collaboration and the opportunity to learn from other organisations were beneficial aspects of having different actors. However, this also resulted in variability in the effectiveness of interventions between districts.
Conclusion
NGOs should focus on behaviour change and health education that is tailored to marginalised communities and seek innovative ways to implement trachoma intervention programmes whilst being minimally intrusive to the traditional way of life. Partners should also implement ways to ensure high quality programmes are being provided, by increasing staff accountability and compensating volunteers fairly.
... Mapiye et al. (2020) suggest that ICTs help to strengthen communication of market information and enable producers to be constantly linked to diverse sources of market information and communication pathways. Prior studies (Mwantimwa 2017;Mapiye et al. 2020) also suggest that effective use of ICTs presents a great chance for enhancing information access for rural communities. ...
In order to promote smallholders' adoption of mobile phones for marketing, it is important to understand factors that influence their adoption. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate factors that affect the adoption of mobile phones for livestock and poultry marketing by smallholders in Vietnam. A two-section questionnaire was administered to 233 smallholder livestock and poultry farmers randomly selected from 573 smallholders in Phu Cat district of Vietnam. A binary logistic regression model was used to analyse the data. This study found that young smallholders who live close to an electricity base, with higher education levels, higher income, own large farms, participate in credit/training programmes, and who are members of community-based organisations, have a greater tendency to use mobile phones for livestock and poultry marketing. Subsidy and the provision of technical short course training on the use of mobile phones for smallholder livestock and poultry farmers are important extension strategies that can strengthen the adoption of mobile phones by smallholders for marketing, and this strategy should be delivered via community-based organisations.
... Instead, how a farmer uses her phone may be critical. Other research has identified potential mechanisms behind positive relationships between using phone use and for agricultural productivity, which include: the use of mobile phones for connecting farmers to buyers [6], acquiring inputs for farming [45], reducing transaction costs and time associated with agricultural activities [46,47], and exchanging agricultural information and recommendations [4,48]. Our results are consistent with these findings, specifically our observations of respondents' positive perceptions of mobile phones for decreasing time and money spent, and increasing profits from agricultural activities. ...
Mobile phone use is increasing in Sub-Saharan Africa, spurring a growing focus on mobile phones as tools to increase agricultural yields and incomes on smallholder farms. However, the research to date on this topic is mixed, with studies finding both positive and neutral associations between phones and yields. In this paper we examine perceptions about the impacts of mobile phones on agricultural productivity, and the relationships between mobile phone use and agricultural yield. We do so by fitting multilevel statistical models to data from farmer-phone owners (n = 179) in 4 rural communities in Tanzania, controlling for site and demographic factors. Results show a positive association between mobile phone use for agricultural activities and reported maize yields. Further, many farmers report that mobile phone use increases agricultural profits (67% of respondents) and decreases the costs (50%) and time investments (47%) of farming. Our findings suggest that there are opportunities to target policy interventions at increasing phone use for agricultural activities in ways that facilitate access to timely, actionable information to support farmer decision making.
... Other scholars (e.g. Mwantimwa, 2019;Silayo, 2016;Gunasekera and Miranda, 2011;Lwoga et al., 2011) noted that access to agricultural information and knowledge can influence change and lead to progress in the agricultural sector by empowering people with the ability to make informed decisions on agricultural production. In all, success in any farming activity has a link to proper usage of agricultural information and knowledge. ...
Purpose
There is a contradictive debate on factors influencing mobile phone usage awareness among scholars. This study aims to examine factors influencing mobile phone usage awareness for accessing agricultural marketing information.
Design/methodology/approach
A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used with 400 smallholder grape farmers. The use of structured questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews helped to collect primary data. Data analysis was subjected to descriptive, ordinal logistic regression and thematic approaches.
Findings
This study found that farmers were mostly aware of voice calls helping to access buyers and price information. Education, age and sex were the critical factors influencing mobile phone usage awareness among grape smallholder farmers.
Originality/value
This study contributes to scientific knowledge by providing an understanding of the perceived factors on mobile phone usage awareness within the grape subsector to inform policymakers.
The rapid widespread of digital technologies over the past decades has been changing the way to deliver agricultural extension services to farmers in rural areas in Africa. This shift is driven by the development of digital agricultural advisory initiatives. They provide knowledge and practices improvement to farmers in order to increase their production and, thus their income. However, although they are promising, these initiatives often have a limited impact on agricultural practices or farm-gate prices for three main reasons: (1) the advice is too general and doesn’t match local farming processes, (2) the change of scale, due to in-person dependent agricultural extension efforts that are expensive and fraught with accountability problems, and (3) finally its cost. In this context, it becomes interesting to investigate how to transform the widespread adoption of mobile technology to real agricultural development opportunities. This paper presents a tool-supported approach that overcomes these difficulties. In our approach, agronomic extension services are science-based, locally customized and individualised at plot level. Advice is delivered at the appropriate time during the agricultural season by an automated crop management plan designed by local extension service support. The advice is then specific, and the extension officers can reach out to many more farmers than solely through field visits. Finally, as the implementation service is cloud-based, costs are reduced.KeywordsAgTechAgronomic extension servicesdigital toolsSmart agricultureSmallholder farmers
Adoption and usage of mobile phones enable information and knowledge flows among value chain players, including farmers, and therefore contribute to improved efficiency. To ensure the successful implementation of MPTs in agriculture, farmers should embrace them. We present a systematic review of determinants, constraints, methods, indicators, and measures of MPT adoption among farmers and a methodological quality assessment of the included studies. Findings from 53 studies showed significant heterogeneity in research. Most studies targeted developing regions in Africa and Asia and only a few in developed countries. Although studies mainly focused on MPT adoption, they varied significantly in the outcome indicators assessed and their measurement. This heterogeneity in the conceptualization and measurement of adoption indicators underscores the need for standardized approaches in future studies. There is also sub-optimal use of established psychological-behavioral theories to underpin MPT adoption.
Cross-sectional designs and quantitative approaches dominate the research landscape. Concerning farmers' MPT adoption, key drivers were education, age, gender, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, perceived cost, performance and effort expectancy, attitude, skills, and knowledge. Factors such as mobile phone cost, inadequate infrastructure, and language barrier constitute major hurdles constraining farmers' adoption of MPT in developing countries. The generally low quality of the reviewed studies suggests that future studies should invest in transparently providing their study objectives, methods, and interpretation of the findings. This systematic review contributes to a better understanding of farmers' MPT adoption drivers and suggests areas for future research. It provides relevant information to policy-makers, public and private sector agencies, mobile phone companies and app developers, researchers, agricultural extension workers, academicians, and other stakeholders when designing and implementing policies for MPT adoption in agriculture.
The conception of biometric systems as a means of securing sensitive information and enhancing service delivery remains under-researched. To address this knowledge gap, we explore the case of a public-sector social security and pension organisation in Ghana using a qualitative interpretative study approach and the information security model of confidentiality-integrity-availability as an analytical lens. The study's findings indicate that integrating and using biometric identification and authentication as part of delivering social security and pension services can protect availability, confidentiality, and integrity of information. The findings further show that the use of a biometric system for social security and pension information security can contribute to reducing service turnaround time and vulnerability to fraudulent manipulation of benefits payments. The study provides implications for research, practice, and policy. For research, the paper opens up biometric systems’ study from the perspective of information security and service improvement. For practice and policy, the study demonstrates the importance of aligning biometric systems’ deployment and use with domain application requirements.
Purpose
Farmers in rural areas are generally not well empowered with knowledge and innovations to solve their agricultural problems in spite of the growing presence of such knowledge resulting from research and innovation activities across the globe. This study aims to document approaches, impact and impediments of using village knowledge centers (VKCs) to transfer agricultural knowledge and innovations.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the objective of the study, a case study research design was used to investigate the impact of a selected VKC as institutional innovation in agricultural technology outreach and extension in rural Tanzania. Primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and observation methods. Besides, secondary sources such as reports were used to complement primary data during fieldwork.
Findings
The study reveals that various approaches are used by the VKC to transfer knowledge and innovation to farmers. The use of the multi-actor platform (MAP) to run the VKC ensures inclusive knowledge production and sharing among different actors. The findings also suggest that knowledge and innovation co-creation is constructed with various knowledge systems actors to enhance the use of research generated. Accordingly, the findings show that the university efforts are an important catalyst for integrated knowledge, technology and innovation systems in rural settings.
Research limitations/implications
The present study reveals different limitations associated with the use of a single case study design. The single-case design provided researchers with little basis for generalisation of the study findings and conclusions. Aside from that, the use of a cross-sectional design did not help the researchers to validate the findings and conclusions. To address these limitations, the study recommends similar studies that will adopt different types of longitudinal design such as cohort and diary methods. Apart from this, a future study to investigate the tangible impact of VKC on knowledge and innovation transfer is recommended.
Originality/value
Considering the novelty of the MAP approach in Tanzania and the dearth of studies reporting on how the village knowledge center works and how effective it is, the present study provides insights on the approaches, impact and impediments.
Regardless of deliberate efforts by the government of Tanzania to enhance accessibility and usability of information and knowledge, a divide persists regarding resources between rural and urban areas as evidenced by poverty in rural areas. This article investigates livelihood information and knowledge needs, access, and exchange among rural communities in the Bunda District of Tanzania. A mixed research approach was used to collect, analyse, and present field data. Findings illustrate livelihood information and knowledge needs among rural dwellers, and the sources and mechanisms used to access, exchange, and use it, are diverse. Further, factors impeding effective exchange of information and knowledge include provision of irrelevant and untimely information and knowledge presented in user-unfriendly packages that hamper decision-making on livelihood matters.
In order to facilitate the adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for accessing agricultural information by smallholders, it is critical to understand their perspectives on the use of ICT. However, few empirical studies have considered how smallholders utilise ICT in Central Vietnam. This research investigates the Central Vietnamese smallholders’ views on the extent of use of ICT for accessing agricultural information. A sample size of 250 smallholders was randomly selected from a total of 687 smallholders in Trieu Phong district, Central Vietnam. A two-section questionnaire was used to gather data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The smallholders used mobile phones, TV and radio networks/broadcasts as the common ICT tools, and these were also effective ICT tools for accessing agricultural information. Lack of knowledge and skills for using applications on mobile phones were the main challenge to the smallholders’ use of ICT. A statistically significant relationship, existing between the extent of mobile phone use and the smallholders’ age (χ = 10.04, p = 0.040), gender (χ = 5.99, p = 0.014) and the type of households (χ = 6.84, p = 0.033), was found. Similarly, there was a statistically significant relationship existing between the extent of radio network/broadcast use and the smallholders’ age (χ = 9.58, p = 0.048) and gender (χ = 4.83, p = 0.028).
Development level of a society is a measure of how efficiently the society is harnessing the benefits of different developmental and welfare programs initiated by the government of the day. Tribal in India have been deprived of opportunities because of many factors. One of the important factor is unavailability of suitable infrastructure for the development plan to reach to them. It is widely acknowledged that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have potential to play a vital role in social development. Several projects have attempted to adopt these technologies to improve the reach, enhance the coverage base by minimizing the processing costs and reducing the traditional cycles of output deliverables. ICTs can be used to strengthen and develop the information systems of development plans exclusively for tribal and thereby improving effective monitoring of implementation. The paper attempts to highlight the effectiveness of ICT in improving livelihood of tribals in India.
Through examining the example of commercial small-scale horticultural farmers in Mt. Kenya region and Mwanza region, this empirical study aims to provide an explanation for why different perspectives on the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the Global South exist. A mixed methods approach was used to show that ICT usage can lead to significant improvements, including access to simple and complex knowledge and the development of business linkages. However, the influence of ICT depends on the different ICT usage types and the capabilities of farmers to use them. This paper gives a differentiated view on factors influencing the effects of ICT on small-scale farming. It provides a typology of ICT that helps to explains some of the potential effects of ICT usage in the Global South. The results contribute to the current applied and conceptual debate on market access for smallholders and Information and Communication Technologies for Development.
Many claims are made about the transformational developmental impacts of new ICTs, particularly mobile phones, on Africa. However, such claims neglect other structural dynamics and the contradictory impacts of mobile phones, which can reduce, but also sometimes increase, poverty. This paper re-examines the role of mobile phones in African development and poverty, drawing on the concept of articulation. While mobile phones are meant to help "ºatten" the world and allow for economic development through facili-tating connection between places, they often serve to reinforce the dynamics of uneven development. Consequently, while mobile phones may be "socially articulating," they recreate (new) forms of economic disarticulation, thereby replicating patterns of Africa's adverse inclusion in the global economy. The occlusion of these dynamics in the literature arguably serves a useful ideologi-cal function: positing the mobile phone as a technical ªx for what are primar-ily problems of power maldistribution. The impact of these developments in ICT in Africa, in terms of both ICT development (increased infrastructure and access) and ICT for develop-ment (adoption of ICT applications), has been to advance the process of development itself, in terms of ICT for development. The result of this duality of sector transformation has, itself, been dually vast. On the one hand, it has facilitated the delivery of services, such as education, health, better governance (on the parts of both the leadership and the governed), enterprise, and business development, as well as their over-all contribution to socioeconomic well-being (especially poverty reduc-tion), political stability, and self-actualization (Okpaku, 2006, p. 153).
Agriculture is the main economic activity in Tanzania and the country's largest employer, providing livelihood for at least 80% of the economically active population. Many studies have identified key challenges facing the sector for Africa in general - among these lack of access to knowledge. For agricultural producers, access to knowledge is important for an improved productivity and competitiveness. The fast diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICT) such as mobile phones across Africa in the last years has resulted in an improved access and transfer of agricultural knowledge. Studies have shown that rural actors like farmers in remote areas even use mobile phones for their farming business. Based on qualitative interviews in the Mwanza Region in northwestern Tanzania, this study aims to identify and categorise the different types of knowledge which are transferred via mobile phones. Our results show that mobile phones enlarge the ability of farmers to access business-relevant knowledge at an increasing spatial scale. However, the effects of the use depend on the type of knowledge and other factors. The results add to existing studies by deepening the understanding of the benefits of ICT on knowledge access and transfer for the context of rural small-scale framers in Tanzania.
This study sought to investigate factors influencing the use of mobile phones in communicating agricultural information in Rural Tanzania. Generally, it aimed at addressing the following questions: (1) in what ways do farmers make use of mobile phone technologies to meet their agricultural information needs? (2) How the uses of the mobile phones enable farmers to confront the challenges they face in their farming business? (3) What are the farmers' attitudes toward the use of mobile phone technology? Specifically, the study had three objectives: (1) to determine the extent of ownership of mobile phones by farmers in the study area. (2) to assess the type of agricultural information that farmers send and or receive using mobile phones and (3) to identify socio-economic factors influencing the use of mobile phones in the communication of agricultural information in the study area. A cross-sectional research design and simple random sampling technique were adopted, 384 respondents and 16 key informants were contacted for interview and Focus Group Discussion, respectively. Data collected were summarize, coded before being analyzed using a Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The study found that, asymmetry information generates uncertainties in farming business which eventually limit the economic potential of farmers as market participants. Basically, the study results, can be interpreted that, mobile phone technology acceptance to rural Tanzania was high enough for one to accompany it with a predictable positive economic impact. In terms of access to agricultural information through mobile phones, it was evident that, people in the study area capture the advantages of increased number of mobile phone to access information related to their farming business. Most of respondents valued mobile phones as easy, fast and convenient way of communicating agricultural information. Factors that influenced mobile phone use in communicating agricultural information included mole phone ownership, type of agricultural information to be communicated, farming system practiced, network coverage, and respondents' socio-economic characteristics. On the other hand, lack of electricity, poverty and lack of knowledge limited respondents' mobile phone ownership and use.
Many view information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as mobile phones, computers and the Internet as tools that can significantly strengthen the quality and depth of Africa's engagement with the world economy. This paper interrogates the impacts of Africa's burgeoning ICT ‘revolution’ through an examination of their use among small, medium and micro-scale enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa's and Tanzania's wood products and tourism sectors. The findings reveal that while new ICTs are being adopted rapidly, they are generally used for communication purposes, not deeper forms of information processing and management. This ‘thintegration’, while positive in many ways, has done little to stop a trend towards the devaluation of the goods and services provided by the SMMEs surveyed here. Moreover, ICTs are enabling new forms of outside intervention and intermediation into African markets, often further marginalising local firms and industries. The article details these outcomes and demonstrates why ‘thicker’ and more transformative kinds of ICT integration will remain elusive in the absence of changes to non-ICT-specific structures and power relations that limit Africa's ability to participate in the global information economy.
In recent years, mobile phones have become a common feature in business and society in Kenya and are increasingly used in farming. This is also the case for export-orientated small-scale farmers. The aim of this paper is to study the role of mobile phone use by Kenyan export-orientated small-scale fresh fruit and vegetable famers (ffv). We focus on farmers in the Mt. Kenya region using data from questionnaires and expert interviews. We identify four different types of exchange for which mobile phones are used by these farmers: 1. transactions, 2. information, 3. complex knowledge and 4. organization and networking. Our results suggest that the use of mobile phones can improve the farmers’ possibilities for payment, production, marketing, and knowledge transfer, and their competitiveness and integration in international value chains. However, so far the advantages are mostly limited to simple communication and payment; the broad introduction of new applications (with the exception of mobile payment) has not yet taken place.
Mobile remittances have a high development potential as they hold the promise of providing quick, easy and cheap money transfers. In Africa mobile phone usage has increased sharply and mobile banking providers are extending their services, enabling greater opportunities for mobile remittances. The rise of mobile banking in Africa, however, differs substantially across countries, mainly due to a lack of financial infrastructure. Consequently, the opportunities that mobile banking offers for mobile remittances vary geographically. The services provided do not always meet the needs of remittance senders and the African remittances market is generally under-acknowledged as an important market by providers. Restrictive financial regulations play a key role as well. Mobile remittances have the potential to become an important and revolutionary tool for remittances sending in Africa. Effective policies should therefore address the limitations in the regulatory and financial infrastructure for mobile banking to become the foundation for mobile remittances.
The rapid spread of mobile phones has increased access to an enormous range of applications that are highly valued by urban and rural populations in developing countries. The diffusion of the mobile phone has been faster than any other information and communication technology in human history, but the capabilities for using this technology to its full potential have been slower to develop. Part of the explanation for this lies in the overwhelming emphasis on supply-side initiatives. Diffusion studies, including those focusing on the ‘bottom-of-the-pyramid’, can tell us about the take-up of mobile phones and some of the characteristics of use and of users, but they cannot tell us whether access to mobiles is contributing to poverty alleviation in developing countries.
Although problems of access and cost continue to present barriers to take-up, mobile communication is providing a new basis for entrepreneurship and social innovation. However, the complex challenge of enabling people to acquire the knowledge essential for developing innovative applications that are responsive to their local needs has is being neglected. The necessary digital skills include operational expertise and an understanding of information structures when the mobile phone is used as a medium for communication. They also include information search and selection skills, communication and content creation skills, and strategic skills needed to use mobile phones in ways that support individual or professional goals. The widespread failure to acquire these abilities is limiting opportunities for empowerment through the use of mobile phones. This paper considers gaps in the existing evidence-base, examines disconnections between policy and practice, and highlights new opportunities for the development of digital capabilities for mobile phone-based entrepreneurship.
Mobile phones have emerged as truly pervasive and affordable Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform in the last decade. Large penetration of cellular networks and availability of advanced hardware platforms have inspired multiple innovative research opportunities in mobile computing domain. However, most of the research challenges have focused on typical scenarios existing in the developed economies. In this paper, we present research challenges and novelties in mobile computing domain that take account for differences between developing in particular India and developed economies. Our research is based on commonly available mobile platforms, communication cost, differences in user behavior and acceptable societal norms, among others.
This paper maintains that mobile phone payments present a significant opportunity to integrate more users within Uganda's financial system. Besides enabling services that can improve the performance of small businesses, mobile payments afford an opportunity to integrate more users within the traditional banking system at reasonable cost. In order to evolve a successful model and realise these benefits, Uganda can learn from the Philippines, a developing country with arguably the most successful and widespread use of mobile payments in the world. Action areas include reviewing the national policy and legal environment, building capacity and collaboration amongst multiple regulatory agencies, and the need to be accommodative of as many stakeholders as possible. This will create a truly national system that can leverage the projected growth of the mobile phone market and bring benefits to the general population.
Using theories of technology acceptance and technology transfer, we identified factors affecting the use of mobile information and communication technology (mobile ICT) in the least developed countries (LDCs), specifically sub-Saharan Africa. From a literature review, we developed a research model to describe factors that impact mobile ICT use and formulated a series of hypotheses about them. We then surveyed mobile ICT users in Kenya and Nigeria and created a structural model to examine our hypothesized relationships. Our findings indicate that access to mobile ICT, and cultural influences on mobile ICT diffusion, strongly influence individuals’ perceptions of the usefulness and ease of use of mobile ICT. Individuals’ perceptions about the reliability of mobile ICT influence use of these technologies significantly. The results suggest that, although extensive ICT diffusion (high mobile ICT levels per capita) may be necessary for seeding commercial and economic initiatives that depend heavily on mobile ICT, such as m-commerce, it may not be sufficient. Firms conducting business in sub-Saharan Africa need to pay attention to the factors that explain individual mobile ICT use because these factors will most likely determine the optimal market segmentation, business development and customer service strategies for leveraging m-commerce operations in that region. For government units, the understanding of such factors would also be beneficial in aiding economic planning and commerce.
This study examined the contribution of mobile phones to rural livelihoods and poverty reduction in Morogoro region, Tanzania. The study sample comprised of 310 households, 74 focus group participants and 22 key informants. Data were collected through questionnaire, focus groups, and key informant interviews and were analyzed using SPSS and Nvivo. The findings indicate that mobile phones contribute to reduce poverty and improve rural livelihoods by expanding and strengthening social networks; increase people�s ability to deal with emergencies; cut down travel costs; maximize the outcomes of necessary journeys; increase temporal accessibility; and amplify efficiency of activities. The use of mobile phones also reduces costs of doing business and increases productivity by helping rural traders and farmers to secure better markets and prices; and promptly communicate business-related information. Although they enabled rural communities to generate some income through the sale of mobile phone services, the phones had not made important contribution in this aspect. It is concluded that mobile phones contribute to improve rural livelihoods and reduce poverty by providing rural households with fast and easy modes of communication, thereby increasing their ability to access livelihood assets, undertake diverse livelihoods strategies, and overcome their vulnerabilities.
Informational challenges-absence, uncertainty, asymmetry-shape the working of markets and commerce in many developing countries. For developing country micro-enterprises, which form the bulk of all enterprises worldwide, these challenges shape the characteristics of their supply chains. They reduce the chances that business and trade will emerge. They keep supply chains localised and intermediated. They make trade within those supply chains slow, costly, and risky.Mobile telephony may provide an opportunity to address the informational challenges and, hence, to alter the characteristics of trade within micro-enterprise supply chains. However, mobile telephony has only recently penetrated. This paper, therefore, presents one of the first case studies of the impact of mobile telephony on the numerically-dominant form of enterprise, based around a case study of the cloth-weaving sector in Nigeria.It finds that there are ways in which costs and risks are being reduced and time is saved, often by substitution of journeys. But it also finds a continuing need for journeys and physical meetings due to issues of trust, design intensity, physical inspection and exchange, and interaction complexity. As a result, there are few signs of the de-localisation or disintermediation predicted by some commentators. An economising effect of mobile phones on supply chain processes may therefore co-exist with the entrenchment of supply chain structures and a growing "competitive divide" between those with and without access to telephony. (c) 2008 by The Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Errors in requirements specifications have been identified as a major contributor to costly software project failures. It would be highly beneficial if information systems developers could verify requirements by predicting workplace acceptance of a new system based on user evaluations of its specifications measured during the earliest stages of the development project, ideally before building a working prototype. However, conventional wisdom among system developers asserts that prospective users must have direct hands-on experience with at least a working prototype of a new system before they can provide assessments that accurately reflect future usage behavior after workplace implementation. The present research demonstrates that this assumption is only partially true. Specifically, it is true that stable and predictive assessments of a system's perceived ease of use should be based on direct behavioral experience using the system. However, stable and behaviorally predictive measures of perceived usefulness can be captured from target users who have received information about a system's functionality, but have not had direct hands-on usage experience. This distinction is key because, compared to ease of use, usefulness is generally much more strongly linked to future usage intentions and behaviors in the workplace. Two longitudinal field experiments show that preprototype usefulness measures can closely approximate hands-on based usefulness measures, and are significantly predictive of usage intentions and behavior up to six months after workplace implementation. The present findings open the door toward research on how user acceptance testing may be done much earlier in the system development process than has traditionally been the case. Such preprototype user acceptance tests have greater informational value than their postprototype counterparts because they are captured when only a relatively small proportion of project costs have been incurred and there is greater flexibility to modify a new system's design attributes. Implications are discussed for future research to confirm the robustness of the present findings and to better understand the practical potential and limitations of preprototype user acceptance testing.
This paper studies the antecedents of active usage of mobile instant messaging (MIM) applications based on an attachment theory perspective. It proposes MIM identification; self-congruence, design aesthetics, interactivity, mobility and feedback can be the factors that influence active usage of MIM from a user-device attachment perspective. It also explores two working mechanisms of these factors: emotional attachment and functional dependence. By using a survey method, 294 valid responses were collected from Chinese active smartphone users and were analyzed using structural equation modelling. The results of the analysis indicate that MIM identification, self-congruence and design aesthetics influence emotional attachment significantly, and mobility and design aesthetics influence functional dependence significantly. Besides, interactivity and feedback do not have any significant impact on functional dependence. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
The study assessed how ICTs can enhance access to agricultural information needed for fostering agricultural production and agribusiness in Tanzania. Specifically, the study determined the role of specific ICTs in agricultural production and agribusiness and assessed the effectiveness of the commonly used ICTs in the creation and sharing of agricultural knowledge and information services. It further evaluated the factors which limit the effectiveness of ICTs in facilitating agricultural production and agribusiness in Tanzania. The study involved a mixed approach in collecting data, relying on a structured questionnaire, interviews, content analysis and observations during the data collection. Results show that radio, mobile phones, television, computers and internet have potentials to transform the sector if they are used effectively. Findings show further that not all ICTs are suitable for all categories of actors in the agricultural sector. Mobile phones and radio were preferred as communication channel among farmers while researchers and extension staff mentioned to prefer using computers and internet. Moreover, some of the ICT applications such as calls, short messaging services and sim-banking were mentioned to be used often. From these findings it is recommended that internet and mobile service providers should widen their infrastructure and reduce tariffs associated with usage of their services so as to increase the number of users of their services. This can enable more information exchange among agriculture stakeholders and this increase agricultural production and agribusiness.
Access to and use of mobile telephony in sub-Saharan Africa has increased dramatically over the past decade. Mobile telephony has brought new possibilities to the continent. Across urban–rural and rich–poor divides, mobile phones connect individuals to individuals, information, markets, and services. These effects can be particularly dramatic in rural Africa, where in many places mobile phones have represented the first modern telecommunications infrastructure of any kind. Mobile phones have greatly reduced communication costs, thereby allowing individuals and firms to send and to obtain information quickly and cheaply on a variety of economic, social, and political topics. An emerging body of research shows that the reduction in communication costs associated with mobile phones has tangible economic benefits, improving agricultural and labor market efficiency and producer and consumer welfare in specific circumstances and countries. This paper first examines the evolution of mobile phone coverage and adoption in sub-Saharan Africa over the past decade. We then explore the main channels through which mobile phones can effect economic outcomes and appraise current evidence of its potential to improve economic development. We conclude with directions for future research and outline the necessary conditions for mobile phones to promote broader economic development in Africa.
In recent years, an innovative ridesharing service relying heavily on advanced mobile phone technologies known as real-time ridesharing or dynamic ridesharing, has gained popularity in some groups: providers, organizations, and employers. Traditionally, rideshare arrangements between two or more unrelated individuals for commuting purposes have been relatively inflexible, long-term arrangements. Real-time ridesharing attempts to add flexibility to rideshare arrangements by allowing drivers and passengers to arrange occasional shared rides ahead of time or on short notice. The addition of this service innovation presents opportunities to overcome existing rideshare challenges but also leads to new challenges. The overall goal of this study was to provide a foundation for further real-time ridesharing research. The aims of the study were to identify, highlight, and discuss the potential benefits of and obstacles to real-time ridesharing and to point to the next steps to understand better and possibly advanc...
Recent technological advancements significantly redefined the context in which organizations acquire, process, and share information. The transformations that emerged across the organizational and institutional landscapes have led to the emergence of new forms of organizational design and business models. Within this context, the new business patterns, platforms and architectures have been developed to enable for the maximization of benefits from data through the adoption of collaborative work practices. The main focus of such practices is oriented towards the improvement of responsiveness, building of alliances and enhancing organizational reach. The use of global networks and web based systems for the implementation of collaborative work has been accompanied with a wide range of computer supported collaborative systems. This paper examines the context of collaboration, collaborative work and the development of agent-supported collaborative work system and examines the implications of the ontological positions of sociomateriality on agent-supported collaborative work domains in terms of multi-agent architecture and agent-oriented evaluation.
Our goal is to assess the strategic and operational benefits of electronic integration for industrial procurement. We conduct a field study with an industrial supplier and examine the drivers of performance of the procurement process. Our research quantifies both the operational and strategic impacts of electronic integration in a B2B procurement environment for a supplier. Additionally, we show that the customer also obtains substantial benefits from efficient procurement transaction processing. We isolate the performance impact of technology choice and ordering processes on both the trading partners. A significant finding is that the supplier derives large strategic benefits when the customer initiates the system and the supplier enhances the system's capabilities. With respect to operational benefits, we find that when suppliers have advanced electronic linkages, the order-processing system significantly increases benefits to both parties.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries have mobile markets ranging from one of the world's largest GSM networks to fledging new services. Market structures, the extent of competition and the scope of regulation also vary widely. South Africa dominates regional cellular development with over 90% of SADCs nearly three million subscribers. Major factors driving cellular growth are:1.Substitution for fixed line for customers on waiting lists.2.The attractiveness of “prepaid”, especially for people without credit options.3.The potential for roaming.
Regulation has been light-handed and not consistent across the region, missing a number of opportunities to boost mobile cellular access through license conditions, competition and tariff limitations. If all tariffs fell to the lowest level in the region, then the number of subscribers (excluding South Africa) by the year 2005 could be nearly four times the estimate at current tariffs. With the effective regulation and market stimulation, the region's mobile subscribers could exceed the number of fixed subscribers in only a few years.
The paper explores a mechanistic understanding of IT-enabled innovation in a context of supply chain. Based on the innovation dynamics perspective and resource-based view, it links IT resources for supply chain management and IT-enabled innovation via e-business capability with supply chain partners. A conceptual model is formulated to explain how and why IT can enable product and process innovations along the supply chain, and is empirically validated by the data from 676 manufacturing firms in six countries. It was found that IT resources for supply chain management are capable of achieving IT-enabled innovation through both upstream and downstream e-business capability to collaborate with suppliers and customers. The paper contributes to the literature of digitally enabled supply chain management and IT business value. It also allows important managerial implications to firms, especially those in manufacturing sector, about how to chase IT-enabled innovation in supply chains to overcome today's depression.
This article focuses on the diffusion of Internet in the sub Saharan region of Africa (SSA). This region faces many problems like hunger epidemics and other socio economic problem. Dissemination of Internet is the last thing to be associated with Africa. A very little data is available to know the current status of the impact of Internet. The available statistics tells that no longer the telephone densities of SSA is trapped below the 1% threshold, which is considered essential to economic growth and development. No longer is the region as stifled by a lack of fair regulation and free competition. In the last two years, 36 new operators launched mobile services and well over half of the countries across the region established independent organizations to regulate their information and telecommunications sectors. These changes have largely taken place since the mid 1990s, before which most of SSA was a technological desert. Statistics obtained in 1995 show a continent with sparse Internet presence and low connectivity. Much of this has changed now.
Usability testing of software applications developed for mobile devices is an emerging research area that faces a variety of challenges due to unique features of mobile devices, limited bandwidth, unreliability of wireless networks, as well as the changing context (environmental factors). Traditional guidelines and methods used in usability testing of desktop applications may not be directly applicable to a mobile environment. Therefore, it is essential to develop and adopt appropriate research methodologies that can evaluate the usability of mobile applications. The aim of this paper is to analyze and highlight research questions, methodologies, and usability attributes while conducting a usability test for mobile applications. First, the paper provides an overview of existing usability studies and discusses major research questions that have been investigated. Then, it proposes a generic framework for usability testing of mobile applications and provides some suggestions on how to conduct such usability studies.
As the founder of MIT's Media Lab and a popular columnist for Wired, Nicholas Negroponte has amassed a following of dedicated readers. Negroponte's fans will want to get a copy of Being Digital, which is an edited version of the 18 articles he wrote for Wired about "being digital." Negroponte's text is mostly a history of media technology rather than a set of predictions for future technologies. In the beginning, he describes the evolution of CD-ROMs, multimedia, hypermedia, HDTV (high-definition television), and more. The section on interfaces is informative, offering an up-to-date history on visual interfaces, graphics, virtual reality (VR), holograms, teleconferencing hardware, the mouse and touch-sensitive interfaces, and speech recognition. In the last chapter and the epilogue, Negroponte offers visionary insight on what "being digital" means for our future. Negroponte praises computers for their educational value but recognizes certain dangers of technological advances, such as increased software and data piracy and huge shifts in our job market that will require workers to transfer their skills to the digital medium. Overall, Being Digital provides an informative history of the rise of technology and some interesting predictions for its future.
When information is limited or costly, agents are unable to engage in optimal arbitrage. Excess price dispersion across markets
can arise, and goods may not be allocated efficiently. In this setting, information technologies may improve market performance
and increase welfare. Between 1997 and 2001, mobile phone service was introduced throughout Kerala, a state in India with
a large fishing industry. Using microlevel survey data, we show that the adoption of mobile phones by fishermen and wholesalers
was associated with a dramatic reduction in price dispersion, the complete elimination of waste, and near-perfect adherence
to the Law of One Price. Both consumer and producer welfare increased.
Access to gender and development information by rural women in the Tanga Region
- E Kiondo
Kiondo E (1998) Access to gender and development information by rural women in the Tanga Region, Tanzania.
PhD thesis, Pietermaritzburg: Natal University.
The information wave Information Superhighways: Multimedia Users and Futures
- Cochrane P
- Emmott S.
The role of mobile phones in sustainable rural poverty reduction, ICT Policy Division, Global Information and Communication (GICT)
- A Bhavnani
- Won-Wai Chiu
- Janakiran S Silarszky
Bhavnani A, Won-Wai Chiu R, Janakiran S and Silarszky P
(2008) The role of mobile phones in sustainable rural
poverty reduction, ICT Policy Division, Global Information and Communication (GICT). Accessed 6
July2016 from: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/eb33/
89189d36fe4784409934865a028ea3a6c362.pdf
Real-time ridesharing-the opportunities and challenges of utilizing mobile phone technology to improve rideshare services
- A Amey
- J Attanucci
- R Mishalani
Amey A, Attanucci J and Mishalani R (2011) Real-time
ridesharing-the opportunities and challenges of utilizing
mobile phone technology to improve rideshare services.
Paper Submitted to the 2011 Transportation Research
Board Annual Meeting. Transportation Research
Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Boards
2217.
Application of information communication technologies in the agricultural sector in Africa: A gender perspective
- Munyua H
- Rathgeber E
- Adera EO
Information needs and communication patterns of rural Uganda: Implications for mobile phones
- A Ndiwalana
- N Scott
- S Batchelor
- A Summer
Ndiwalana A, Scott N, Batchelor S and Summer A (2011)
Information needs and communication patterns of rural
Uganda: Implications for mobile phones. Accessed 17
February 2017 from: http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/
get/diva2:357565/FULLTEXT01.pdf#page¼140
Cell phones: A platform for social innovation in emerging markets
- K Peterson
Peterson K (2009) Cell phones: A platform for social innovation in emerging markets. Accessed 16 December
2016 from: http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/06/10/
cell-phones-a-platform-for-social-innovation-in-emer
ging-markets/
Repackaging scientific and technical information for illiterate and new literate users: A case study of Southern Sudan. Paper presented at the 7th Standing Conference for Eastern, Central and Southern African Librarians, pre conference seminar held in Gaborone
- D Rosenberg
Rosenberg D (1986) Repackaging scientific and technical
information for illiterate and new literate users: A case
study of Southern Sudan. Paper presented at the 7th
Standing Conference for Eastern, Central and Southern
African Librarians, pre conference seminar held in
Gaborone, Botswana on 31st July -2nd August 1986.
The role of information and communication technologies in rural development and food security. SD Dimensions: Knowledge and Communication for Development Workshop Report. Sustainable Development Department (SD)
- Agriculture Food
- Organisation
E-commerce and community economic development: Enemy or ally? SD Dimensions: Knowledge and Communication for Development Report. Sustainable Development Department (SD)
- M Gurstein
Gurstein M (2000) E-commerce and community economic
development: Enemy or ally? SD Dimensions: Knowledge and Communication for Development Report. Sustainable Development Department (SD), Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The innovative use of mobile applications in East Africa
- J Hellström
Hellström J (2010) The innovative use of mobile applications in East Africa. SIDA Review No. 12.
Cyberspace across Sub-Saharan Africa: From technological dessert to technological savannah
- V Mbarika
- M Jensen
- P Meso
Mbarika V, Jensen M and Meso P (2002a) Cyberspace
across Sub-Saharan Africa: From technological dessert
to technological savannah. Communications of the ACM
45: 17-21.
Mobile Applications in Agriculture and Rural Development: Framing the Topic, and Learning from Experience
- K S Mcnamara
McNamara KS (2009) Mobile Applications in Agriculture
and Rural Development: Framing the Topic, and Learning from Experience. Washington D.C: World Bank.
Information Superhighways: Multimedia Users and Futures
- S J Emmott
ICTs for Poverty Alleviation: Basic Tool and Enabling Sector
- A Greenberg
Greenberg A. (2005) ICTs for Poverty Alleviation: Basic
Tool and Enabling Sector. Stockholm: Sida. Accessed
16 March 2017 from: http://www.sida.se/shared/jsp/
download.jsp?f¼SIDA4937en.pdf&a¼3607.
- S Rao
Rao S (2007) Tanzania Agri Research Report. Accessed 12
December 2016 from: https://www.scribd.com/docu
ment/36202672/Tanzania-Agri-Research-Report.
Effect of mobile telephony on empowering rural communities in developing countries. International Research Foundation for Development (IRFD) Conference on Digital Divide
- C Sinha
Sinha C (2005) Effect of mobile telephony on empowering
rural communities in developing countries. International
Research Foundation for Development (IRFD) Conference on Digital Divide, Global Development and the
Information Society, 14-16 November 2005, Tunis,
Tunisia.