Understanding the development of rural-ICT service providers in the Tanzanian agro-pastoral system

摘要

Informationandcommunicationtechnologiesarecommonlyacknowledgedasthebestmeansofknowledgeandinformationacquisitionforsocio-economicgrowthinruralareasofdevelopingcountries.Thestudywascarriedouttogenerateinformationonthesocio-economiccharacteristicsofagro-pastoralists,sourcesofproductioninformation,typeofinformationandcommunicationtechnologyobtained,thelevelofutilizationandeffectofinformationandcommunicationtechnologyontheagro-pastoralsystem.Thestudyadoptedacombinationofcross-sectionalandcasestudydesigns.Dataweregeneratedthroughdirectadministrationofstructuredquestionnairesto407agro-pastoralists,keyinformantsinterviewthatinvolvedmanagersfromRural-ICTServiceProviders(RISP)andvillageextensionofficers.Resultsshowthatseventypercent(70%)oftheagro-pastoralistscontactedweremen,withthehigherproportionofagesrangingbetween18-34yearsfollowedby35-54yearsold.62.4%ofsampleagro-pastoralistshadattendedprimaryeducation,withtherest(37.6%)havingsecondaryeducationandabove.IntermsofownershipofimportantICTassets,agro-pastoralistscontactedhaveandaremorefamiliarwithradio(84.5%),mobilephones(76.2%),telecentre(64.1%),andtelevision(73.7%)foragriculturalandlivestockinformationandknowledgeacquisitionthanmagazines(44.0%)andnewspapers(36.4%).Only42.2%oftheagro-pastoralistsagreedthatICThavehighlypositivelyimpactedtheirlivestockandagriculture(agro-pastorallivelihoods);31.0%confirmedthattheyhavebeenimpacted;while24.8%agreedthattheyhavenotbeenabletocoordinateandharnessinformationobtainedfromICTtoimprovetheirproductivityinlivestockandagriculture.ItisconcludedthatthepotentialofICTservicesinruralareasasyetremainsuntapped.ThisisbecauseofthelimitedlevelofawarenessontheuseofRISP(telecentresalongsidewithcommunityradio)toimproveandenhanceagricultureandlivestockproduction.Therefore,urgentmeasuresarerequiredtoderivemaximumbenefitsofICTamongagro-pastoralistsforsustainableagro-pastoralsysteminruralTanzania.