Promoting the Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Agricultural Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for Policy

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have the potential to reach many farmers with timely and accessible content. This article highlights the importance of ICTs in promoting agricultural transformation. It recommends the establishment of agricultural communication networks, which involve active participation of all stakeholders in agriculture and highlights the need for a participatory approach, the monitoring and evaluation of end users, and the integration of farmer knowledge and information needsinto the content management system. Public institutions in agriculture should also be involved in developing a curriculum in ICTs for agricultural development and support ICT platforms to facilitate farmers' access to quality agricultural information.

Challenges facing sub‐Saharan small‐scale farmers in accessing farming information through mobile phones: A systematic literature review

“…This creates an opportunity for researchers to devote research resources in crop farming projects that use mobile phones, with a view of improving livelihoods of people within SSA countries. The findings that there are a few projects support Ajani's (2014) recommendation that more agricultural communication networks be established in SSA to facilitate farmers' access to quality agricultural information.…”

“…Thus, involving SSFs in the design process might be one of the strategies that could promote ownership and success of a mobile phone project. Hence, the traditional design method should be replaced by codesign to ensure informed technology use (Ajani, 2014;Yalman & Yavuzcan, 2015).…”

The Case for a Two-Step Approach to Agricultural Campaign Design

“…First, we extend the literature on agricultural development communication by focusing on the importance of the differences in the media environments in which different stakeholder groups are embedded and their preferences for receiving agricultural information. Rather than simply arguing for the strengths and potential of ICTs for agricultural development (Ajani, 2014;Fawole & Olajide, 2012;Gakuru et al, 2009;Oladele, 2011;Patel et al, 2010), this article introduces the two-step campaign design model that accounts for the existing sociocultural, economic, and institutional context. We explain how to use ICTs in agricultural campaigns when target populations lack access, do not frequently use, or do not trust newer media channels.…”

“…, since they can be more efficient than extension agents in terms of costs, reachability, and time (Ajani, 2014;Fawole & Olajide, 2012). For example, transferring crop protection information in the form of short animations via cell phones or the Internet can be effective when farmers are isolated from local, indigenous knowledge or lack the literacy to learn from scientific research (Bello-Bravo et al, 2013).…”

Technology for Small Scale Farmers in Tanzania: A Design Science Research Approach

“…Ali & Kumar, 2011;Kalusopa, 2005;Rao, 2007;Bertolini, 2004). In sub-Saharan Africa, the number of technology projects in agriculture is increasing, but is still low when compared to Asia and South America (Ajani, 2014). This may be due to the fact that policy and regulatory frameworks on telecommunications constrain infrastructure development, which is at the world's lowest level, and human capacities in the field of ICTs are still insufficient (Misaki et al, 2015).…”