Assessment of information and communication technology (ICT) usage by maize farmers in Lira city.

Abstract

This research study was about the assessment of information and communication technology (ICT) usage by maize farmers in lira city east, Lira city. Many economies throughout the world, including that of Lira City East Division in Uganda, depend heavily on the agricultural industry. For a sizeable percentage of the population, it provides food security, money generating, and work opportunities, serving as their main source of support. The majority of agriculture in Lira City East Division is smallholder farming, which is characterized by subsistence farming methods and limited access to advanced agricultural technologies. ICTs encompass a wide range of digital tools and technologies, including mobile phones, internet connectivity, smart phones radios TVs and printed media. These technologies have the potential to revolutionize agriculture by enhancing access to information, improving decision-making processes, and increasing productivity. There is under utilizations and digital divide of these technologies among most of the maize farmers in Lira city east. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of information and communication technology experience by farmers in their activities. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the socio economic factors of maize farmers identify and categorize different ICT tools used by maize farmers in the area and to identify challenges maize farmers face in using these ICT tools and systems. Furthermore, a qualitative cross sectional survey designed was used to gather data from 80 respondents. The sampling technique used was simple random sampling where 80 respondents were selected to participate in the study within 6 Wards in lira city east. Data from the respondents were collected by administering a well-structured questionnaire, and the findings from the respondents were analyzed using both Microsoft Excel and SPSS, Presentation of the findings were done using tables, graphs and charts. The results from the study showed that majority of the respondent were female (62.5%), while 37.5% were male, with most of them (40%) falling in the youthful age of 19-35 years. The findings also revealed that majority of the respondents used radio as an effective ICT tool for the activities. In conclusion, the assessment has shed light on the current status of ICT usage by maize farmers and identified opportunities and challenges in leveraging digital technologies for agricultural development. While significant progress has been made in recent years, there is still room for improvement in enhancing access, promoting literacy, and tailoring ICT solutions to the specific needs of maize farmers. Conclusively the study also gave out some recommendations such as policy support, collaborations with other bodies, improvement in the current ICT infrastructure and as well recommendations for further research studies on Information and communication technology utilization in agriculture.