ACCESSIBILITY OF AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND COMMUNICATION /ICT/ SERVICES TO SMALL FARM HOUSEHOLDS AND LEVEL OF UTILIZATION FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF DUGDA WOREDA OF EAST SHOWA ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Access to and utilization of agricultural knowledge and communication/ICTs is a key to agricultural development. Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess the level of farmers’ awareness on the use of ICT, the barriers to access and utilization of ICT and the associated constraints by farmers in Dugda woreda of East Showa Zone of Oromia Region. A two stage random sampling procedure was used for the survey and the necessary data was obtained by face-to-face interview using a structured interview schedule and through focus group discussions. Data analysis was done through the use of simple descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, mean and percentages. The results of the study had revealed that, ICTs for imparting agricultural information was not accessible to farmers mainly due to their low educational level, large family size that had created pressure on farmers’ lower income, non- participation of farmers in social institutions which had made them lost the opportunity they might gain in sharing vital agricultural knowledge and information, lower income generated from subsistence crop production, lack of awareness on the benefits of ICTs for agricultural production and productivity, poor infrastructural facilities in the area and long distance of ICT services from farmers residences. It was recommended that in the effort to provide ICT services to farmers more emphasis should be given to the provision of information relevant to their farming systems and compatible with the farmer’s needs or expectations, literacy level, language, and social norms or cultural differences. Hence, ICT should be: affordable, scalable, sensible and appropriate to the farmers’ real situations.