Challenges associated with the use of information and communication technologies in information sharing by fish farmers in the Southern highlands of Tanzania
| Published date | 26 October 2019 |
| Date | 26 October 2019 |
| Pages | 44-61 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-11-2018-0085 |
| Author | Ronald Benard,Frankwell Dulle,Hieromin Lamtane |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
Challenges associated with the
use of information and
communication technologies in
information sharing by fish
farmers in the Southern highlands
of Tanzania
Ronald Benard and Frankwell Dulle
Sokoine National Agricultural Library, Sokoine University of Agriculture,
Morogoro, Tanzania, and
Hieromin Lamtane
Department of Animal, Aquaculture and Range Sciences,
Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to examine the challenges facing fish farmers in the use of information and
communicationtechnology (ICT) in information sharing on fish farming.
Design/methodology/approach –This study used both quantitative and qualitative methods. It
involved 240 fish farmers who were randomly selected. Questionnaires, focus group discussions (FGDs),
observation and key informant’s interviews were used as methods of data collection. Both descriptive and
inferential statistics wereused to analyse quantitative data, while content analysis was used for qualitative
data.
Findings –It was found that the most frequently used ICTs by fish farmers in sharing agricultural
information were mobile phones, radio and television.Also, the study revealed that major challenges facing
fish farmers in sharing information includeunfavourable radio or television broadcasting time, high cost of
acquiring and maintenanceof ICT facilities, lack of training on ICT, poor network connectivity and low level
of literacy. Moreover,it was further found that there was negative significant relationship(P<0.05) between
challengesassociated with the use and degree of ICT usage by fish farmers.
Originality/value –The study is original with the exception of areas where citations have been made.
Besides, it provides awareness and understanding of the challenges facing fish farmers in ICT usage in
information sharing on fish farming, and this will enable improvement of timely provision and access to
relevantinformation and hence improved fish farming production.
Keywords Television, Mobile phones, ICTs, Aquaculture, Agricultural information,
Radios and televisions, Fish farming
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Agriculture plays a very important role in the social and economic development of most
African countries and is the main contributor to economic growth and stability
(Bhalekar et al.,2015). In Tanzania, the sector is known for employing more than 70 per
cent of the total population. According to URT (2016a), the sector on average
JICES
18,1
44
Received8 November 2018
Revised15 May 2019
20August 2019
Accepted16 September 2019
Journalof Information,
Communicationand Ethics in
Society
Vol.18 No. 1, 2020
pp. 44-61
© Emerald Publishing Limited
1477-996X
DOI 10.1108/JICES-11-2018-0085
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/1477-996X.htm
contributes around 24 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) compared to 30 per
cent a decade ago, and it contributes about 24 per cent of exports, down from about 45
per cent 10 years earlier, mostly because of the development of alternative foreign
exchange earning opportunities from minerals and tourism services. Aquaculture and
fishery as well as sub sectors of agriculture, have increasingly become important
sources of income and livelihoods for many people in African countries including
Tanzania. Tanzania is one of the greatest fisheries nations in Africa, ranking in the top
ten countries in terms of total capture and fisheries production (FAO, 2017). In 2014, the
fisheries and aquaculture sector contributed 2.4 per cent to the Tanzania GDP and has
been growing at the rate of 5.5 per cent (Economic Survey Report, 2014). This
contribution to the GDP is low compared to other agriculture sub sectors such as
livestock keeping. Likewise, both extensive and semi-intensive fish farming in
Tanzania is dominated by small-scale farmers. Aquaculture or fish farming is generally
integrated with other agricultural activities such as gardening, livestock and poultry
production on small pieces of land. The dominant fish species cultured in the brackish
and marine waters in Tanzania include Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), followed by
African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), milkfish (Chanos chanos)andtheflathead grey
mullet (Mugil cephalus)(Kaliba et al., 2006;FAO, 2012). Besides, most fish-farmers sell
their farm outputs to neighbourhoods at the farm gates and local markets, and very few
sell their produce at the secondary markets or external markets (Chenyambuga et al.,
2014;Mwaijande and lugendo, 2015;Churi et al., 2012).
However, fish farmers in Tanzania, especially those from the Southern Highland, face
some challenges in carrying out their fish farming activities. Those challenges include low
knowledge and skills on pond management practices and species selection, inadequate
aquaculture extension services, lack of reliable and adequate agricultural information,
distance to information sources and absence of the type of information the farmers need to
produce their choice of aquaculture products [United Republic of Tanzania (URT), 2015].
Likewise, fish farmers are hinderedby inadequate investment in aquaculture infrastructure
and facilities for processing and marketing fish and fishery products, lack of access to
finance and credit facilities and to aquaculture inputsas well as improper feeding and pond
fertilisation, (URT, 2012;Chenyambuga et al.,2014). In addition, fish farming productivity
depends on the type of communication tools used for dissemination of right information to
the right target groups (Musa et al.,2013).
For a rapid growth of fish farming or aquaculture, efficient flow of information to
fishfarmersisofagreatsignificance. According to Ain a et al. (1995) and Benard and
Dulle (2014), information has a vital role to play in improving and sustaining
aquaculture production of any nation. In addition, Eucharia et al. (2016) have put it
clearly that information as a factor of production is necessary to increase fish farming
production. Access to the right information at the right time in the right format and
from the right source may mean farmers’success or failure (Opara, 2008). Thus,
farmers who possess appropriate and current information are likely to make a more
rational decision than those without information. However, important information on
various aspects of fish farming in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania is not accessible
or does not reach farmers (Benard et al., 2018). In this regard, information and
communication technology (ICT) tools such as mobile phones, radios and television can
play an important role in disseminating and sharing timely and relevant information to
fish farmers and, consequently, improve their fish farming production. Musa et al.
(2013) point out that the achievement of high agricultural productivity depends on the
availability and accessibility of timely and relevant agricultural information. It also
Information
sharing by fish
farmers
45
To continue reading
Request your trial