Determinants of Information and Communication Technology Use in sharing Information by Fish Farmers in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania

Abstract

Understanding the determinants of information and communication technologies (ICT) usage in fish farming is very important, as it enables the development of strategies that promote ICT usage in sharing information on different fish farming technologies. Very little empirical evidence exists on having studies conducted in Tanzania which have assessed how the combination of socio-economic factors and other factors, particularly farmers’ attitudes, and perceptions on perceived usefulness and ease in the usage of ICTs among farmers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in twelve purposively selected divisions in Ruvuma, Mbeya and Iringa. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 240 randomly selected fish farmers. Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), observation and key informant interviews were used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, while content analysis was employed to analyse qualitative data. Findings show that fish farmers had positive attitudes toward the use of mobile phones, radio and television in sharing agricultural information. Likewise, results show that fish farmers had high and medium perceptions on the usefulness of mobile phones, radios and television. Perceived usefulness was reported high for mobile phones by 175 (72.9%) of farmers, and radio and TV were reported medium by 124 (51.7%) and 120 (50.0%) respectively. Furthermore, the findings indicated that income, perceived ease of use, quantity of fish produced, attitudes, household size, radio ownership and perceived usefulness were significant at p<0.05 and positively related to the use of mobile phones, radios and television. It can plausibly be concluded that fish farmers in the study area have a positive attitude and perceptions of the use of ICTs for sharing information related to fish farming. Based on the findings from this study, it is recommended that stakeholders like research institutions, policy makers and information providers should make sure that they incorporate the use in sharing fish farming information among farmers and should motivate individual farmers in the use of such ICTs.