Factors Affecting Mobile Phone Usage by Farmers As A Source of Agricultural Information In Sharqia Governorate, Egypt

Yıl 2022, Cilt: 19 Sayı: 2, 412 - 425, 31.05.2022

Tamer Mansour

https://doi.org/10.33462/jotaf.1013886

Öz

Mobile phones are one of the most important ICTs that contribute to farmers’ adoption of agricultural innovations around the world, this study was conducted to identify the factors influencing mobile phone usage as a source of agricultural information for farmers in Sharqia Governorate, Egypt. A random sample of 355 respondents was interviewed during the period from January to April 2021. The results showed the diversity of sources that farmers depend on to obtain agricultural information such as fertilizer and supplies dealers, experienced farmers, relatives, and neighbors which were the main sources of agricultural information for respondents. Results indicated that only 9.9% of the respondents had a high mobile phone usage as a source of agricultural information, while 69.3% of them had a low degree of usage. A negative statistically significant relationship was found between the total degree of respondents' use of mobile phones as a source of agricultural information and their age at a 0.01 level of significance. while the relationship was positive with variables such as educational level, farm size, possession of a smartphone, and membership in social organizations. The mobile network's weak coverage in the village, lack of knowledge about agricultural applications, lack of knowledge about mobile phone operation, and the high cost of internet services were at the forefront of these problems facing the surveyed farmers who use mobile phones for agricultural purposes. Therefore, this study recommends the agricultural extension to make greater efforts to spread the use of ICT tools, including mobile phones technology among farmers.

Anahtar Kelimeler

mobile technologies, information and communication technology (ICT), Agricultural extension, Extension methods, Agricultural innovations, Phone usage

Kaynakça

• Abebe, A. and Mammo Cherinet, Y.(2018) Factors Affecting the Use of Information and Communication Technologies for Cereal Marketing in Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural & Food Information, [online] 20(1), pp.59-70.
• Abdul-Aziz, H., Haruna, S.K. and Jamilu, A.A. (2015). Contributions of information communication technology use to female farmers in Kaduna State. Proceedings of the 20th Annual National Conference of Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria held at NAERLS, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
• Asef, A., Muhammaed Nasir, U., Debashish, S. D. and Md. Abdul Momen, M. (2017). Factors affecting mobile phone usage by farmers in receiving information on vegetable cultivation in Bangladesh. Journal of Agricultural Informatics. 8(2), 33-43
• Alavion, S., Allahyari, M., Al-Rimawi, A. and Surujlal, J., 2016. Adoption of Agricultural E-Marketing: Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Journal of International Food & Agribusiness Marketing, 29(1), pp.1-15.
• Aldosari, F., Al Shunaifi, M., Ullah, M., Muddassir, M. and Noor, M.(2019). Farmers’ perceptions regarding the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Northern Pakistan. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, [online] 18(2), pp.211-217.
• Alibu, S., Otim, M., Okello, S., Lamo, J., Ekobu, M. and Asea, G., 2016. Farmer’s Knowledge and Perceptions on Rice Insect Pests and Their Management in Uganda. Agriculture, [online] 6(3), p.38.
• Anselme, B. A., Romeo, M., Faustin, V. and Desire, A. (2012). Determinants of ICT use by rice farmers in Benin: from the perception of ICT characteristics to the adoption of the technology. J of Research in International Business and Management, 2(11), 273-284
• Bachaspati, S. (2018). An economics study of electronic trading portal for national agriculture market (e-NAM) on selected agrcultural produce market committtees (APMCs) of Chhattisgarh. (Master thesis), Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidhyalaya, Raipur, India. Available at: https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810063093
• Baloch, A. M.; B. G. Thapa. Agricultural extension in Balochistan, Pakistan: Date palm farmers’ access and satisfaction. Journal of Mountain Science, v.11, n.4, p.1035-1048.(2014) A. doi: 10.1007/s11629-013-2837-8 Available at. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11629-013-2837-8
• Baumüller, H. (2013). Mobile technology trends and their potential for agricultural development (ZEF Working Paper 123). http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2359465
• Baumüller, H. (2017). Assessing the role of mobile phones in offering price information and market linkages: The case of M-Farm in Kenya. Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 68(6), 1–16.
• CAAES. (2021). Extension personnel in Egypt. Unpublished statistics. Central Administration for Agricultural Extension and Environment. The Technical office.
• Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (capmas.gov.eg),(2020) Available at: https://www.capmas.gov.eg/Pages/IndicatorsPage.aspx?page_id=6134&ind_id=2262
• Chikuni, T., & Kilima, F. T. M. (2019). Smallholder farmers' market participation and mobile phone-based market information services in Lilongwe, Malawi. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 85(6), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/isd2.12097
• Das, B. (2014). ICTs Adoption for Accessing Agricultural Information: Evidence from Indian Agriculture. Agricultural Economics Research Review, 27(2), 199. https://doi: 10.5958/0974-0279.2014.00024.x
• Gbigbi T.M..(2021) Technical Efficiency and Profitability of Cassava Production in Delta State: A Stochastic Frontier Production Function Analysis. .Journal of TekÕrdag AgrÕcultural Faculty , 18 (1), 21-31. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/979853
• Hoang, G., 2020. Adoption of mobile phone for marketing of cereals by smallholder farmers in Quang Dien District of Vietnam. Journal of Agricultural Extension, [online] 24(1), pp.106-117.
• Huda, S., Hasan, M. R., Rahman, M. S., Noman, M. R. F., & Muhammad, N. (2017). Effect of Mobile Phone Technology in Improving Small Farm Productivity. Advances in Computer Science and Information Technology, 4(3), 193-19 available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336578186_Effect_of_Mobile_Phone_Technology_in_Improving_Small_Farm_Productivity
• Islam, S., & Grönlund, Å. (2012). Factors Influencing the Adoption of Mobile Phones among the Farmers in Bangladesh: Theories and Practices. International Journal on Advances In ICT For Emerging Regions (Icter), 4(1), pp 4-14. https://doi.org/10.4038/icter.v4i1.4670
• Jaji, M., Abanigbe, S., & Abass, B. (2017). Mobile Phone as an extension tool among female agricultural practitioners in Lagos State Nigeria. Journal Of Agricultural Extension, 21(3), 66.
• Kaske, D., Mvena, Z. S. K., & Sife, A. S. (2018). Mobile phone usage for accessing agricultural information in Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural and Food Information, 19(3), 284–2980.
• Khan, N., Qijie, G., Sertse, S., Nabi, M., & Khan, P. (2019). Farmers’ use of mobile phone-based farm advisory services in Punjab, Pakistan. Information Development, 36(3), 390-402.
• Khidir, A. A. 2019. Awareness and use of mobile phone apps by farmers in northwest Nigeria. A Ph.D. A thesis submitted to the Dept of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North-West University, South Africa.
• krejcie, R.V., & Morgan, D.W., (1970). Determining Sample Size for Research Activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement.
• Kwapong, O. (2009). A Comparison of ICT Knowledge and Usage among Female Distance Learners in Endowed and Deprived Communities of a Developing Country. E-Learning and Digital Media, 6(2), 164-174.
• Khanna, A., Singh, A., Soni, J., Quiraishi, H. and Quiraishi, M. (2012). "Edutainment based Mobile Phone Games for Health Communication in India", International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 3(1), 371-374.
• Madenci, A. B., Bayramoğlu, Z., Türker, S., Ağızan, K., Eyiz, V. (2020), Determination of Consumer’s Willingness to Pay for Halal Food. Tekirdağ Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, 17 (3), 346-356.
• Mansingh, P., & Erena, F. A. (2016). Impact of mobile phone technology on agriculture and rural development: An analysis. International Journal of Current Research, 8(5), 31311– 31317. Available at: http://www.journalcra.com/article/impact-mobile-phone-technology-agriculture-and-rural-development-analysis
• Miller, C., Saroja, V. N., & Linder, C. (2013). ICT uses for inclusive agricultural value chains. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome Available at: http://www.fao.org/3/aq078e/aq078e.pdf
• Nyamba, S. Y. (2017). The use of mobile phones in communicating agricultural information in Tanzania: the roles of different stakeholders (Doctoral dissertation, Sokoine University of Agriculture).
• Mittal, S., & Mehar, M. (2015). Socio-economic Factors Affecting Adoption of Modern Information and Communication Technology by Farmers in India: Analysis Using Multivariate Probit Model. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 22(2), 199-212.
• Obong, R., Mugonola, B., & Phillips, D. P. (2018). Determinants of mobile phones usage in sweet potato vine business in Gulu district northern Uganda. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 13(21), 1
• Ogutu, S., Okello, J., & Otieno, D. (2014). Impact of Information and Communication Technology-Based Market Information Services on Smallholder Farm Input Use and Productivity: The Case of Kenya. World Development, 64, 311-321.
• Osadebamwen, A.O. and Ideba, E. (2015). Smallholder farmers and mobile phone technology in Sub-Saharan Agriculture. Mayfair Journal of Information and Technology Management in Agriculture, 1(1), 1-19.
• Piccoli, G., Ahmad, R., & Ives, B. (2001). Web-based virtual learning environments: A research framework and a preliminary assessment of effectiveness in basic IT skills training. MIS Quarterly, 25(4), 401– 426.
• Ramli, N., Hassan, M., Man, N., Samah, B., Omar, S., Rahman, N., Yusuf, S. and Ibrahim, M.,( 2019). Seeking Agriculture Information through Mobile Phone among Paddy Farmers in elangor. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 9(6).
• Ronald, O., Basil, M., & David, P. (2018). Determinants of mobile phones usage in sweet potato vine business in Gulu district northern Uganda. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 13(21), 1071-1079.
• Roy, M. L., Chandra, N. K., Mukherjee, A., Jethi, R., & Joshi, K. (2018). The extent of use of ICT tools by hill farmers and associated social factors. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education, 18, 27–31
• Salau, E., Kachiro, S., Darason, Y., & Cyril, J. (2017). Benefits of Mobile Phone Usage among Cassava Processors in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 22(1), 87-96.
• Santosham, S., & Lindsey, D. (2015). Bridging the gender gap: Mobile access and usage in low-and middle-income countries.
• Saroj, K., Nishi, S., & Raman, J. (2017). Sociopersonal factors with impact assessment of mobile-based advisory services in Haryana. Annals of Agri Bio Research, 22(2), 299-302.
• Senthilkumar, S., Chander, M., Serma Saravana Pandian, A., & Sudeep Kumar, N. (2013). Factors associated with utilization of ICT enabled Village Information Centres by the dairy farmers in India: The case of Tamil Nadu. Computers And Electronics in Agriculture, 98, 81-84.
• Sharqia Directorate of Agriculture, Agricultural Extension, unpublished data,(2020)
• Sikundla, T., Mushunje, A., & Akinyemi, B. (2018). Socioeconomic drivers of mobile phone adoption for marketing among smallholder irrigation farmers in South Africa. Cogent Social Sciences, 4(1), 1505415.
• Statista (2019). Mobile phone users’ worldwide Technology and Telecommunication statistics 2019-2020.
• William, T., Elias, O., Christophe, B., Jamie, A., & Vincent, J. (2021). Mobile phone technology for increasing banana productivity among smallholder farmers in Uganda. Journal Of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 13(1), 1-13.
• World Bank Group (2018, October). Information and communications for development: Data-driven development (Tech. Rep. No. 128301). World Bank. Available at
• Xiaolan, F. and Shaheen A. (2012). Impact of the mobile telephone on the quality and speed of agricultural extension services delivery: Evidence from the rural e-Services project India, The J of Development Studies, 52(11), 1561-1576,
• Zhang, Y., Wang, L., & Duan, Y. (2016). Agricultural information dissemination using ICTs: A review and analysis of information dissemination models in China. Information Processing in Agriculture, 3(1), 17-29.