MOBILE PHONE TECHNOLOGY AND EXTENSION SERVICE DELIVERY TO SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The study assessed mobile phone technology and extension service delivery to smallholder farmers in northern region of Ghana. The study sought to examine agricultural information mostly accessed and shared by farmers and extension agents and the constraints they faced in disseminating and accessing extension services. The study was conducted in two districts in Northern Region namely Tolon District and Gusheigu Municipality. These districts were sampled because mobile phone technology in disseminating agricultural information have been employed in the districts for some years now. Through multi-stage sampling techniques 200 smallholder farmers, 100 from each district and 10 extension agents from each district who have been accessing and sharing extension service via the mobile phone. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in analysing the data gathered for the study. Findings of the found that in generally farmers and AEAs surveyed have positive views, opinions, and attitudes about the use of mobile phone as a means of disseminating agricultural information. Farmers and AEAs indicated that they often accessed and shared market information, weather information, Information on pest disease control, information on credit sources and information on agro-chemical use. Most extension officers and farmers share and access agricultural information through phone calls, sending and receiving text SMS, sending, or listening to Voice SMS, watching pre-recoded videos on farm operations and social media platform. Among the AEAs surveyed high illiteracy rate among farmers and unstable network or high call dropout rate were ranked respectively as 1st and 2nd most severe constraints in using mobile phone. The study recommended that adult literacy among farmers should be promoted to improve literacy level among farmers to enable them effectively used their mobile phone to access extension services.