A Study of the Use of Mobile-Phones for Participatory Extension Services in the Gombe State FADAMA Project
A Study of the Use of Mobile-Phones for Participatory Extension Services in the Gombe State FADAMA Project
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Date
2014-11
Authors
Danladi, Kabiru
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Abstract
ABSTRACT This is a study in Information and Communication Technology and its incorporation into Extension Communication for farmers. One area that has not been fully investigated and its application still in its infancy is the incorporation of mobile phone in agricultural extension. The challenges are how to build an efficient agricultural information system using mobile phone technology.The study is ―An Exploratory Study of the Use of Mobile Phones for Participatory Extension in the FADAMA Project in Gombe‖. The objectives of the study were to explore the potential use of mobile phone for agricultural extension in the FADAMA project in Gombe State. Using survey, questionnaire and Key Informant Interview as instruments, information was collected from members of the FADAMA User Groups, extension experts in Gombe State and ABU Zaria on the potentials of using mobile phones for agricultural extension. Findings of the study indicated that mobile phone usage in information dissemination to farmers in the FADAMA project in Gombe state was very limited. Its application was limited only to communication between the FADAMA office in the state capital with the Local Government Facilitators. Majority of the Fadama User Group members indicated (50.3%) preferences of the use of mobile phones in communicating with the FADAMA office. The major problems identified in using the device to send agricultural information to farmers in Gombe state was poor network, shortage of power and having people not always using their phone lines. The study recommended among others that mobile phones to be incorporated in the facilitation of the FADAMA programme and also extend its application for extention to ADP in Gombe State.
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A thesis submitted to the School of Post Graduate Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of Master of Science Degree in Mass Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria. DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA NIGERIA NOVEMBER, 2014
Keywords
Mobile-Phones,, Participatory Extension Services,, FADAMA Project,, Gombe State