1. Kathlee Freeman and Fridah Mubichi Theoretical Framework
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Use by Smallholder Farmers in Rural Mozambique
Kathlee Freeman and Fridah Mubichi
University of Missouri - Columbia
Abstract
Agriculture and ICTs
In Their Words
The potential of information and communication technologies (ICT) to aid in agricultural development has been widely recognized. This qualitative study, based on deductive content analysis, examined the extent of ICT use by farmers in rural Mozambique. The study explored the kinds of ICTs that farmers had access to and the type of information disseminated through them We drew on qualitative data collected from eight focus groups segmented by gender and comprised of adult farmers in two villages, located in central Mozambique. Findings indicated high use of mobile phones and radio and limited use of television. We also found gendered access and use of ICTs.
Smallholder farming is critical for economic growth, development, food security, and household incomes.
80% in Sub-Saharan Africa employed in agriculture
90% of the region’s agricultural production is dependent on smallholder farmers.
32% to the continent’s gross domestic product based on agriculture.
“I go to my friend’s house at 8 P.M. to see what’s going on. After news we watch the novellas….” (Female respondent, Village 2)
“China is doing a good job producing cheap radios that last 2 months” [said with sarcasm] (Male respondent, Village 2)
“I text to ask for credit” (Female respondent, Village 1)
ICTs:
Mozambique % mobile phone subscription rates.
Mobile phones are a growing source of information for smallholder farmers
Radio is the most widely spread technology.
Television is limited by poor infrastructure.
Lack of infrastructure & poor policy slow ICT adoption rates
“We listen [to radio] in the morning when preparing to go to the farm” (Male respondent, Village 1)
Focus Group Results
86 participants (37 male, 49 female) – all identified as smallholder farmers
Differences in ownership rates of ICT equipment varies between villages and gender.
Times and number of radio stations listened to, by both men and women, slightly varied between villages.
Very few use mobile phones to access agriculture information or mobile banking.
Conclusion
Radio is cheapest form of ICT and also most widely adopted.
Mobile phones are not used to access agriculture information which may be due to poor infrastructure, low literacy rates, and a lack of precedence
Physical structures and geographies of each village may contribute to mobile phone and other television usage.
Gendered difference in use and access to ICTs
Comparison on radio stations and types of programs listened to by gender and village
Radio
Primary source of information for most farmers
Highly relevant source of information
Above: Girls outside Village 2 carrying farming supplies
Theoretical Framework
Authors
We adopted the diffusion of innovations theory as a framework to discuss and analyze technology adoption by smallholder farmers in central Mozambique. Technology adoption maybe defined as “the choice to acquire and use a new invention or innovation” (Hall and Khan, 2002).
Kathlee Freeman is a Masters student in Rural Sociology.
Kathlee’s research
focuses on the use of
technology by
smallholder farmers in
East Africa.
Fridah Mubichi is a PhD candidate in Rural Sociology.
Fridah’s research focus is
on social networks
that facilitate smallholder
farmers in rural
Mozambique access to
information & farm inputs.
Reported mobile phone use by men and women across 8 focus groups in central Mozambique
Mobile Phones
Used for voice, text/SMS, and photos
Source: Rogers, E. M. (2010:11). Diffusion of innovations
Figure 1: Diffusion of Innovations categories
Acknowledgements
This study was made possible by the Soybean Innovation Lab- Univ. Missouri, IIAM- Mozambique and USAID.