Integration of ICT tools in the dissemination of agriculture information and their implications among rural farmers in Buyinja sub county in Namayingo district in eastern Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to find out whether the integration of ICT tools in disseminating agriculture programs, policies and innovations, can help to improve service delivery and also shoot the livelihood of the rural farmers of Buyinja Sub County. The study employed a qualitative research design, and the methods of data collection were un structured interview, questionnaires, observation and recording. The data analysis tool was Microsoft word, Excel 2019 to generate statistical tables and figures. The study was carried out in Buyinja sub county in Busoga sub region in Namayingo district, and a total of 80 respondents were sampled for interview in rural communities. The results of the study indicated that majority of the farmers are still ignorant of the existence of extension workers and their services, many farmers have not also benefitted from the services provided by the extension workers and that Most farmers went to school briefly and stopped in primary and secondary, while Radios, cinemas and mobile phones and group extension methods have been widely used in extension. It was therefore concluded that ICT tools especially radios, mobile phones, and cinemas, should be adopted and integrated in disseminating agriculture information among rural farmers. The recommendations included; need to create awareness among farmers, recruiting more extension staff and need to increase funding to the agriculture extension workers. use of radios, mobile phones and cinemas to disseminate agriculture information alongside other methods such as home and farm visit, group methods to increase effectiveness of extension workers. Key words: extension, innovations, dissemination, rural farmers, social media