Sources and intensity of access to agricultural information technologies by smallholder farmers: evidence from Northwest Ethiopia
Agriculture is a key sector in many African economies, making access to accurate agricultural information vital for boosting productivity. This study investigated the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ access to agricultural information in the East Gojjam zone of Amhara, Ethiopia. A cross-sect...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1455037/full |
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| author | Zebenay Shitaye Zebenay Shitaye Zebenay Shitaye Bamlaku Tadesse Bamlaku Tadesse Bamlaku Tadesse Koyachew Enkuahone Koyachew Enkuahone Koyachew Enkuahone |
| author_facet | Zebenay Shitaye Zebenay Shitaye Zebenay Shitaye Bamlaku Tadesse Bamlaku Tadesse Bamlaku Tadesse Koyachew Enkuahone Koyachew Enkuahone Koyachew Enkuahone |
| author_sort | Zebenay Shitaye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Agriculture is a key sector in many African economies, making access to accurate agricultural information vital for boosting productivity. This study investigated the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ access to agricultural information in the East Gojjam zone of Amhara, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey of 403 households was conducted, and data were analyzed using Stata software with the Ordered Probit model. The study found that farmers’ access to agricultural information is significantly influenced by factors such as experience, exposure to electronic and printed media, farm size, access to extension services, input availability, market distance, proximity to development centers, and participation in Farmer Training Centers (FTC). Major constraints to information access included inadequate government policies, insufficient extension services, limited information sources, poor infrastructure, network issues, and a lack of effective knowledge exchange. The study recommends that smallholder farmers increase exposure to various media channels and participate in FTC programs. Additionally, the Ethiopian government should prioritize infrastructure improvements (mobile networks, roads, and electricity), expand extension services, and diversify information sources to improve farmers’ access to relevant agricultural knowledge. Addressing these barriers will help enhance agricultural productivity in the study area. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e4180fa5d07b49de9fb879bd55655b7e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-e4180fa5d07b49de9fb879bd55655b7e2025-08-20T01:59:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2024-12-01810.3389/fsufs.2024.14550371455037Sources and intensity of access to agricultural information technologies by smallholder farmers: evidence from Northwest EthiopiaZebenay Shitaye0Zebenay Shitaye1Zebenay Shitaye2Bamlaku Tadesse3Bamlaku Tadesse4Bamlaku Tadesse5Koyachew Enkuahone6Koyachew Enkuahone7Koyachew Enkuahone8College of Agriculture & Environmental Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, EthiopiaCollege of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, EthiopiaInstitute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCollege of Agriculture & Environmental Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, EthiopiaCollege of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, EthiopiaInstitute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCollege of Agriculture & Environmental Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, EthiopiaCollege of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, EthiopiaInstitute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaAgriculture is a key sector in many African economies, making access to accurate agricultural information vital for boosting productivity. This study investigated the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ access to agricultural information in the East Gojjam zone of Amhara, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey of 403 households was conducted, and data were analyzed using Stata software with the Ordered Probit model. The study found that farmers’ access to agricultural information is significantly influenced by factors such as experience, exposure to electronic and printed media, farm size, access to extension services, input availability, market distance, proximity to development centers, and participation in Farmer Training Centers (FTC). Major constraints to information access included inadequate government policies, insufficient extension services, limited information sources, poor infrastructure, network issues, and a lack of effective knowledge exchange. The study recommends that smallholder farmers increase exposure to various media channels and participate in FTC programs. Additionally, the Ethiopian government should prioritize infrastructure improvements (mobile networks, roads, and electricity), expand extension services, and diversify information sources to improve farmers’ access to relevant agricultural knowledge. Addressing these barriers will help enhance agricultural productivity in the study area.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1455037/fullaccess to informationagriculturefarmersordered probit modelhouseholds |
| spellingShingle | Zebenay Shitaye Zebenay Shitaye Zebenay Shitaye Bamlaku Tadesse Bamlaku Tadesse Bamlaku Tadesse Koyachew Enkuahone Koyachew Enkuahone Koyachew Enkuahone Sources and intensity of access to agricultural information technologies by smallholder farmers: evidence from Northwest Ethiopia Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems access to information agriculture farmers ordered probit model households |
| title | Sources and intensity of access to agricultural information technologies by smallholder farmers: evidence from Northwest Ethiopia |
| title_full | Sources and intensity of access to agricultural information technologies by smallholder farmers: evidence from Northwest Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Sources and intensity of access to agricultural information technologies by smallholder farmers: evidence from Northwest Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sources and intensity of access to agricultural information technologies by smallholder farmers: evidence from Northwest Ethiopia |
| title_short | Sources and intensity of access to agricultural information technologies by smallholder farmers: evidence from Northwest Ethiopia |
| title_sort | sources and intensity of access to agricultural information technologies by smallholder farmers evidence from northwest ethiopia |
| topic | access to information agriculture farmers ordered probit model households |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1455037/full |
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