Mobile Technology Trends and their Potential for Agricultural Development

Baummller, Heike

doi:10.2139/ssrn.2359465

Cited by 37 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The growing affordability of internet access coincides with an impressive number of m-services available for Kenyan farmers to utilize. For instance, Twiga Foods connects horticultural farmers to buyers using a mobile-based buyer-to-buyer platform, 2 and Mkulima Online, M-Farm, provides access to crop prices and connects buyers and sellers (Baumüller, 2013(Baumüller, , 2015. The high adoption rates of mobile phones in Kenya compared to other sub-Saharan African countries, see Figure 1, may be one factor for the multitude of m-services available.…”

Section: Adoption and Utilization Of M-services In Kenyamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lack of access to information and knowledge transfer can hamper agricultural production in rural farming communities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Agricultural, market, and weather information is critical to agricultural productivity, especially for reducing uncertainty and risk associated with extreme weather events and disease (Baumüller, 2013). The dissemination of agro-meteorological information can improve livelihoods by reducing uncertainty and enable improved inputs and technology adoption (Hansen et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The dissemination of agro-meteorological information can improve livelihoods by reducing uncertainty and enable improved inputs and technology adoption (Hansen et al, 2007). Access to information through mobile phones and mobile internet can also help agriculturalists manage risk and reduce vulnerabilities to a changing climate (Baumüller, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the cost of mobile phones have fallen and connectivity has spread, phone ownership and internet access have become possible for populations in the continent's lowest-income areas (Wyche & Olson, 2018). With this uptake of mobile phones, users can subscribe to receive mobile phone-enabled services or 'm-services' to access agro-meteorological (Baumüller, 2013) and market information (Wyche & Steinfield, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Smallholder farmers' use of mobile phone services in central Kenya

Krell

Giroux

Guido

et al. 2020

Climate and Development

105

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Information and services delivered through mobile phones, 'm-services', have transformative potential to provide rural African farmers with important agro-meteorological information. However, a greater understanding is needed regarding the types of m-services available to farmers, how farmers access that information, and possible factors affecting m-service use. With a study of smallholder farming communities in central Kenya, we examine factors affecting the likelihood of Kenyan farmers' adoption of m-services specifically related to agriculture and livestock information, buying and selling products, and alerts about agricultural or livestock activities. According to a survey of 577 farming households, 98% of respondents own a mobile phone. Approximately 25% use it to access information about agriculture and livestock, 23% access information about buying and selling products, and 18% receive alerts. Personal smartphone ownership increases the likelihood of m-services use (p < .001), as does membership in farmer organizations (p < .001). We find that age and income are not significantly related to m-service use, and we discuss this result in terms of intersections between smartphone ownership, gender, and education. Consistent with prior qualitative research, our quantitative results further support the need for m-services providers to design for basic or feature phone users for improved dissemination of agro-meteorological information. ARTICLE HISTORY

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Section: Adoption and Utilization Of M-services In Kenyamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Smallholder farmers' use of mobile phone services in central Kenya

Krell

Giroux

Guido

et al. 2020

Climate and Development

105

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Whether or not the Chinese terrestrian conception of bounded space can be changed into a maritime conception to allow a Nusantara type solution of the claims to the South China Sea may turn out to be an impossible dream, but the dream of a realm of peace, of an Asian "Maritime Darussalam" may eventually become a negotiable proposition. Baumüller, Heike;Ladenburger, Christine;von Braun, Joachim (2011). Innovative business approaches for the reduction of extreme poverty and marginality?…”

Section: Connectivity: Network Across the South China Seamentioning

confidence: 99%

Governing Maritime Space: The South China Sea as a Mediterranean Cultural Area

Evers

2014

SSRN Journal

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Whereas many institutions are in place to govern urban and rural land, maritime areas are less well covered. This situation of a "governance void" has led to uncertainty and conflicts. Thus the South China Sea has become a contested maritime space. In this paper the cultural theory of Oswald Spengler will be applied to stress the importance of conceptions of space as a basis for maritime governance. By comparing it to other maritime spaces, like the Baltic and the Mediterranean Sea, lessons will be drawn from the "longue durée" of history, as analysed by French historian Fernand Braudel. Embedded in this larger theoretical framework special attention will be placed on the Malay and Javanese Nusantara conception of maritime space and its implication for governing the South China Sea.

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The impact of organic cotton cultivation on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Meatu district, Tanzania

Altenbuchner

Larcher

Vogel

2014

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

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In Tanzania, as in many developing countries, cotton is an important source of income for smallholder farmers but also causes various negative effects through high pesticide and intensive land use. To overcome these effects organic agriculture is promoted by different non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and companies. This study examines how organic cotton cultivation influences the livelihood of smallholder farmers in rural Tanzania and focuses on three areas: (1) the motivation to change from conventional to organic farming, (2) experiences and challenges of farmers in the conversion process as well as in the period following the conversion, and (3) the attitude and perceptions of farmers toward organic farming in general. Qualitative interviews with organic farmers in Meatu district in the north of Tanzania, as well as expert interviews, were conducted and observations were made. Results show that although the organic price premium is an important incentive for farmers to convert to organic agriculture, access to training and advisory service are even more important, as no other sufficient agriculture extension service is available in the region. Due to a high level of poverty in the region, environmental motivations for conversion are not in the foreground. Furthermore, the study shows that organic farming can contribute greatly to the improvement of livelihoods in the region (improved soil fertility, increased yields and income, higher standard of living) and increases farmers’ ability to cope with challenges, mainly through knowledge transfer, access to capital and capacity building on a local level. Although positive effects on female farmers were identified, cultural preconditions (e.g., polygamy) harm efforts to strengthen women to a higher degree and gender disparities are still challenging. Further social problems (i.e., high birth rates, a poor education system and a lack of health care), global trading schemes as well as environmental factors (i.e., water scarcity and extreme weather events) cannot be fully offset by the conversion to organic cotton cultivation. Farmers in the Meatu region profit to a high degree from organic agriculture, mainly due to access to knowledge and extension services, nevertheless important challenges remain for farmers and their families.

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Mobile Technology Trends and their Potential for Agricultural Development

Cited by 37 publications

References 38 publications

Smallholder farmers' use of mobile phone services in central Kenya

Smallholder farmers' use of mobile phone services in central Kenya

Governing Maritime Space: The South China Sea as a Mediterranean Cultural Area

The impact of organic cotton cultivation on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Meatu district, Tanzania

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