Access to agricultural knowledge is important in transforming livelihoods of those relying on agriculture for a living and in enhancing food security. This access to agricultural knowledge is influenced by infrastructure needed for information dissemination. However, information infrastructure is not uniformly distributed within and between countries. It is because of this that some of the farming communities are information rich while others are information poor. In Tanzania, the agricultural sector is characterised by poor research-extension-farmers linkage and inaccessibility of agricultural knowledge at farm level
The study investigated the factors influencing access to agricultural knowledge among smallholder rice farmers in the Kilombero district of Tanzania. Specifically, the study identified categories of agricultural knowledge needed by farmers, determined how farmers access agricultural knowledge, and assessed the factors limiting the accessibility of agricultural knowledge among rice farmers in the Kilombero district.
Quantitative data were collected via semi-structured questionnaires administered face-to-face with rice farmers, community leaders, and agricultural agents in four villages at the Kilombero district of the Morogoro region in Tanzania.
The key finding indicates that farmers accessed and used agricultural knowledge in undertaking agricultural activities. It was further revealed that the level of acquisition of agricultural knowledge increased with an increase in age. Farmers needed agricultural knowledge on land preparation, seed selection, and rice planting, while few acquired knowledge on agricultural markets. Among the agricultural knowledge sources used, demonstration plots and agricultural extension agents were found to be used by the majority of the farmers. It was also found that a limited number of demonstration plots, late delivery of information services, a limited number of agricultural extension agents, and poor information and communication technologies infrastructure hindered access to agricultural knowledge among rice farmers in the district.
A strong public–private partnership is needed to enhance access to agricultural knowledge in rural areas. In this regard, the government should set up policies and strategies that motivate private sector investment and involvement in provision of agricultural knowledge in rural areas. The private sector should extend their agricultural-related activities to most rural areas so that more people can have access to agricultural knowledge.
Access to agricultural knowledge is important in transforming livelihoods of those relying on agriculture for a living and in enhancing food security (Lwoga
Information is linked to knowledge through the data–information–knowledge hierarchy (Frické
Access to agricultural knowledge among farmers in most developing countries has been a challenge for many years (Eenhoorn & Becx
For enhancing access to agricultural knowledge, agricultural extension agents from the public and private sector, access to radio and TV networks, and print resources are important (Shetto
Despite the importance of the agriculture sector to the economy and the livelihood of the majority of Tanzanians, the sector has been performing poorly (United Republic of Tanzania
The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing access to agricultural knowledge by smallholder rice farmers in the Kilombero district of Tanzania. The specific objectives were to:
Determine agricultural knowledge needs, acquisition, and usage patterns among rice farmers in the Kilombero district.
Examine sources of agricultural knowledge used by farmers in the Kilombero district.
Determine factors limiting access to agricultural knowledge among rice farmers in the Kilombero district.
Farmers have been using skills and expertise in agricultural activities; Lwoga (
The agricultural knowledge value chain is made up of those who generate and use knowledge. According to Nonaka
Farmers have different agricultural knowledge needs which are relevant to their day-to-day involvement. Farmers need to know what to grow, when to grow it, how to grow more, how to store and preserve their produce, when to sell, where to sell and at what price to sell, and specific agronomic management skills (Abdon & Raab
Scholars (Czapiewski, Floriańczyk & Janc
Acquisition of knowledge involves the importation of substantial amounts of knowledge from internal and external sources of the organisation (Lwoga, Ngulube & Stilwell
Explicit knowledge – the know-how that is described in formal language, print, or electronic media, often based on established work processes, uses a people-to-documents approach (Smith
Exogenous knowledge is acquired from external organisations and communities. People acquire exogenous knowledge through interactions with non-local people and institutions, media, and formal education (Lwoga
Generally, knowledge is acquired to meet knowledge needs expressed by seekers. To enhance easy access of knowledge, codification of tacit knowledge is important. Moreover, having access to both indigenous and exogenous knowledge is important because the two types of knowledge complement each other. For knowledge to be accessed it has to be created or acquired and shared; these processes involve several actors who usually act dependently.
An agricultural knowledge value chain is important for enhancing access to agricultural knowledge. The knowledge value chain is simply the application of the value chain model to knowledge development and usage (Powell
Because of the increasing number of actors in the agricultural knowledge value chain, governments play coordinating roles; thus whatever is being done has a strong positive impact on farmers and other beneficiaries. Kapange (
In order to investigate the above research objectives, this quantitative study relied on both secondary and primary data. An extensive literature review was undertaken which helped in framing questions for the primary data collection. Quantitative data were collected via semi-structured questionnaires administered face-to-face with rice farmers, community leaders, and agricultural agents in four villages at the Kilombero district of the Morogoro region in Tanzania. According to National Bureau of Statistics (
Even though this type of non-probability sampling does not allow representativeness, the sample was easily accessible and organised. Collected data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences where both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in data analysis. Tables, figures, and descriptions were used in presenting the study findings.
Analysed data were presented in tables and descriptions as shown. The results are presented as per the objectives of the study.
The study involved 53 female and 67 male respondents. Among them, 4 males had informal education, 109 (51 females and 58 males) had primary education, and seven (2 females and 5 males) had secondary education and higher. Respondents’ ages ranged from 21 to 80 years with the majority of the respondents being between 31 and 40 years of age.
Respondents were asked if they have needed and used knowledge for conducting agricultural activities. Findings indicated that more than 93% of respondents mentioned that they needed knowledge for performing agricultural activities. Findings indicated that all females involved in the study mentioned that they needed agricultural knowledge for performing agricultural activities (
Usage of agricultural knowledge in performing agricultural activities.
Variable | Category | Uses agricultural knowledge | |
---|---|---|---|
% | |||
Sex | Female | 53 | 100 |
Male | 62 | 93 | |
Education | Informal | 4 | 100 |
Primary | 105 | 96 | |
Secondary and above | 6 | 86 | |
Age | 21–30 | 15 | 94 |
31–40 | 46 | 92 | |
41–50 | 35 | 100 | |
51–60 | 6 | 100 | |
61–70 | 8 | 100 | |
71–80 | 5 | 100 |
The findings in
Respondents were further asked about the types of agricultural knowledge they acquired and used. The findings indicated that farmers acquired and used different types of agricultural knowledge. It was found that farmers acquired knowledge related to land preparation, seed selection, rice planting, and fertiliser application. They also mentioned that they needed knowledge related to how to weed their farms, pre-harvest and post-harvest handling, and agricultural marketing.
The findings in
Agricultural knowledge acquired by rice farmers.
Variable | Category | Knowledge on land preparation (%) | Knowledge on seed selection(%) | Knowledge on rice planting (%) | Knowledge on fertiliser application (%) | Knowledge on how to weed (%) | Knowledge on pre-harvest and post-harvest handling (%) | Knowledge on agricultural marketing (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sex | Female | 47 (88.7) | 53 (100.0) | 51 (96.2) | 41 (77.4) | 40 (75.5) | 27 (50.9) | 26 (49.0) |
Male | 61 (91.0) | 62 (92.5) | 62 (92.5) | 57 (85.1) | 59 (88.1) | 40 (59.7) | 39 (58.2) | |
Education | Informal | 4 (100.0) | 4 (100.0) | 4 (100.0) | 4 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Primary | 98 (89.9) | 105 (96.3) | 103 (94.5) | 88 (80.7) | 20 (18.3) | 60 (55.0) | 72 (66.1) | |
Secondary and above | 6 (85.7) | 6 (85.7) | 6 (85.7) | 6 (85.7) | 1 (14.3) | 3 (42.9) | 3 (42.9) | |
Age | 21 – 30 | 15 (93.8) | 15 (93.8) | 15 (93.8) | 10 (62.5) | 9 (56.3) | 6 (37.5) | 4 (25.0) |
31 – 40 | 44 (88.0) | 46 (92.0) | 44 (88.0) | 42 (84.0) | 42 (84.0) | 26 (52.0) | 34 (68.0) | |
41 – 50 | 31 (88.6) | 35 (100.0) | 35 (100.0) | 29 (82.9) | 29 (82.9) | 23 (65.7) | 23 (65.7) | |
51 – 60 | 6 (100.00) | 6 (100.0) | 6 (100.0) | 4 (66.7) | 6 (100.0) | 4 (66.7) | 4 (66.7) | |
61 – 70 | 8 (100.0) | 8 (100.0) | 8 (100.0) | 8 (100.0) | 8 (100.0) | 4 (50.0) | 6 (75.0) | |
71 – 80 | 4 (80.0) | 5 (100.0) | 5 (100.0) | 5 (100.0) | 5 (100.0) | 4 (80.0) | 4 (80.0) |
Preference of sources of agricultural knowledge by demographic characteristics.
Variables | Category | Village leader (%) | Demonstration plot (%) | Mobile phones (%) | Farmers’ associations (%) | TV (%) | Print resources (%) | Radio (%) | Fellow farmers (%) | Agricultural extension agent (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sex | Female | 16 (30.2) | 35 (66.0) | 16 (30.2) | 17 (32.1) | 3 (5.7) | 17 (32.1) | 20 (37.7) | 10 (18.9) | 35 (66.0) |
Male | 25 (37.3) | 49 (73,1) | 32 (47.8) | 35 (52.2) | 16 (23.9) | 29 (43.3) | 33 (49.3) | 21 (31.3) | 35 (52.2) | |
Education | Informal | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (100.0) |
Primary | 41 (37.6) | 78 (71.6) | 45 (41.3) | 46 (42.2) | 19 (17.4) | 40 (36.7) | 50 (45.9) | 28 (25.7) | 63 (57.8) | |
Secondary and above | 0 (0.0) | 6 (85.7) | 3 (42.9) | 6 (85.7) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (85.7) | 3 (42.9) | 3 (42.9) | 3 (42.9) | |
Age | 21 – 30 | 7 (43.8) | 10 (62.5) | 3 (18.8) | 2 (12.5) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (18.8) | 9 (56.3) | 4 (25.0) | 5 (31.3) |
31 – 40 | 16 (32.0) | 37 (74.0) | 25 (50.0) | 27 (54.0) | 6 (12.0) | 23 (46.0) | 22 (44.0) | 13 (26.0) | 33 (66.0) | |
41 – 50 | 15 (42.9) | 24 (68.6) | 10 (28.6) | 17 (48.6) | 6 (17.1) | 10 (28.6) | 10 (28.6) | 8 (22.9) | 21 (60.0) | |
51 – 60 | 2 (33.3) | 4 (66.7) | 3 (50.0) | 1 (16.7) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (50.0) | 3 (50.0) | 1 (16.7) | 6 (100.0) | |
61 – 70 | 0 (0.0) | 4 (50.0) | 2 (25.0) | 2 (25.0) | 4 (50.0) | 4 (50.0) | 6 (75.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
71 – 80 | 1 (20.0) | 5 (100.0) | 5 (100.0) | 3 (60.0) | 3 (60.0) | 3 (60.0) | 3 (60.0) | 5 (100.0) | 5 (100.0) |
It was found that the level of acquisition of agricultural knowledge was slightly influenced by the level of education. The findings in
The findings in
Generally, almost all farmers involved in the study needed and acquired agricultural knowledge related to different agricultural activities. They needed knowledge for adding value to agricultural undertakings they are involved in. Most farmers appreciated the fact that the usage of agricultural knowledge increased agricultural production and income from agriculture, which in turn increased their livelihood.
Farmers involved in the study were asked about the sources from which they acquired agricultural knowledge. It was found that farmers acquired agricultural knowledge from village leaders, demonstration plots, mobile phones, farmers’ associations, TV sets, print resources, radio sets, fellow farmers, and agricultural extension agents (
The findings in
Preference of agricultural knowledge was influenced by farmers’ level of education. Findings indicated that all farmers with informal education mentioned to have been using agricultural extension agents as their source of agricultural knowledge; most of those with primary level of education (71.6%) mentioned to have been using demonstration plots. Those with secondary levels of education and higher (85.7%) mentioned that they preferred to use demonstration plots, farmers’ associations, and print resources as sources of agricultural knowledge (
Findings in
Farmers involved in the study were asked if they shared acquired knowledge. It was found that farmers involved in the study used to share knowledge among themselves. The findings indicated that more male farmers (76.1%) shared acquired agricultural knowledge than female farmers (69.8%). Moreover, it can be seen from
Sharing of agricultural knowledge by demographic characteristics.
Variable | Category | |
---|---|---|
Sex | Female | 37 (69.8) |
Male | 51 (76.1) | |
Education | Informal | 0 (0.0) |
Primary | 82 (75.2) | |
Secondary | 6 (85.7) | |
Age | 21–30 | 8 (50.0) |
31–40 | 39 (78.0) | |
41–50 | 26 (74.3) | |
51–60 | 4 (66.7) | |
61–70 | 8 (100.0) | |
71–80 | 3 (60.0) |
The findings indicated that sharing agricultural knowledge was the lowest among the youngest farmers involved in the study as only 50% of them said that they have shared agricultural knowledge. Between the two groups with many respondents, it was found that 78% of those between 31 and 40 years of age and 74.3% of those between 41 and 50 years of age said that they have shared acquired agricultural knowledge. Lwoga (
The study aimed at identifying factors that influence accessibility of agricultural knowledge among farmers. Farmers identified a number of factors that limited access to agricultural knowledge.
Factors influencing access to agricultural knowledge.
Factors | |||
---|---|---|---|
Male (%) | Female (%) | Total (%) | |
Few farmers have been given agricultural training | 48 (72) | 22 (42) | 70 (58) |
Few demonstration plots in the village | 44 (66) | 43 (81) | 87 (73) |
Unaffordable information services | 34 (51) | 48 (91) | 82 (68) |
No exchange visits among farmers | 27 (40) | 28 (53) | 55 (46) |
Demonstration plots are not established on time | 42 (63) | 50 (94) | 92 (77) |
Limited agricultural campaigns | 39 (58) | 36 (68) | 75 (63) |
Information services not delivered on time | 52 (78) | 37 (70) | 89 (74) |
Few agricultural extension agents | 59 (88) | 43 (81) | 102 (85) |
Few agro-dealers | 25 (37) | 6 (11) | 31 (26) |
Limited ICT infrastructure | 65 (97) | 52 (98) | 117 (98) |
Illiteracy among farmers | 42 (63) | 28 (53) | 70 (58) |
ICT, information and communication technologies.
The findings in
Other factors included a limited number of agricultural campaigns (63%); a delay in most information services (74%); a limited number of agricultural extension agents (85%); few agro-dealers (26%); illiteracy among farmers (58%); and limited ICT infrastructure (98%). As indicated in
From
It could be found that some of the factors limiting access to agricultural knowledge are caused by individual farmers, while others are institutional. Factors relating to individual farmers could include illiteracy and low income, which would limit some farmers from accessing agricultural knowledge. The rest of the factors are institutional factors and in one way or the other, they may be solved through a strong public-private partnership as the public or private sector alone cannot eradicate them. Thus, access to agricultural knowledge depends on the involvement of farmers, and the private and the public sector.
The study investigated the factors influencing access to agricultural knowledge among smallholder farmers in the Kilombero district of Tanzania. Key findings indicated that all farmers have been accessing and using agricultural knowledge in undertaking agricultural activities. It was found that the level of acquisition of agricultural knowledge increased with an increase in age and that more farmers needed agricultural knowledge on land preparation, seed selection, and rice planting. It was also found that other farmers needed knowledge on agricultural markets and that demonstration plots and agricultural extension agents were the agricultural knowledge sources consulted by most farmers. Despite the need for agricultural knowledge among farmers in the district, a limited number of demonstration plots, late delivery of information services, a limited number of agricultural extension agents, and limited ICT infrastructure hindered access to agricultural knowledge among rice farmers in Kilombero. A strong public-private partnership is needed to enhance access to agricultural knowledge in rural areas. The government should set up policies and strategies that motivate private sector investment and involvement in the provision of agricultural information in rural areas. The private sector should extend their agriculture-related activities to rural areas so that more people can have access to agricultural knowledge.
The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships which may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.
M.N. was the project supervisor and L.D. was the co-supervisor. W.P.M. conceptualised the work, and collected and interpreted the data.