E-agriculture prototype for information dissemination among Kenyan farmers in the food crops subsector
Date
2014
Authors
Mbarani, David Kedera
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Agriculture information is a tool by which farmers are able to gain power
in making decisions for food crop farming. The integration of electronic tools in
agriculture is increasingly becoming important due to issues surrounding last mile
information distribution and dissemination. Lack of access to information related to
agriculture, coupled with decreasing number of extension staff in the food crops
subsector possess a big challenge to food security and poverty alleviation.
Electronic Agriculture (e-agriculture) is a field focusing on the enhancement of
agriculture through improved information and communication processes.
The research questions on what kinds of information are most necessary
for the farming community, how agricultural information is delivered to the
farming community, what are the main sources of agriculture information and
what kind of Information Communication Technology tools are available to
people in the daily life’s in Kenya were investigated through a design science
research approach.
The research aim was to develop an e-agriculture prototype tool that will
avail and present information in a user friendly manner to farmers with a main
aim of empowering them in carrying out the daily agricultural activities in the
food crops sub sector. It is expected that the tool will go a long way in bridging
the gap created by the declining numbers of extension workers, the varying
information needs of farmers and the challenges posed by the dispersed nature
of the farming community. Its major contributions include informing policy on
the real needs of farmers and how information can be packaged and
disseminated to help farmers in their daily agricultural activities.
Description
A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of
the Degree of Masters of Science in Information Technology
Keywords
E-agriculture, agriculture, information dissemination, Food crops, Kenya