Abstract
The purpose of this research is to reveal the determinants of information seeking behavior of the Abergelle woreda smallholder farmers. In this information era, smallholder farmers’ information seeking behavior shows difference due to many reasons: change with their geographical location, economic, demographic, psychological and institutional factors. Till now, to the best of the author’s knowledge, no study has been done on the topic in the study area, therefore, identifying the research on determinants of information seeking behaviour underline its importance. From the 19 rural kebeles of the wereda, 5 were randomly selected. The sample size was specified based on simplified Yamane (1967) formula and 152 household head were selected by using simple random sampling technique proportion to their population size from the randomly selected five sampled kebeles. The primary data were collected through household survey and secondary data were collected by reviewing published and unpublished materials. The level of respondents information seeking behavior of farmers were analyzed by using mean and standard deviation and the determinants of information seeking behavior identified by ordered logit regression model. Information seeking behavior of farmers’ was determined positively and significant by radio, mobile, extension contact, participating in any training, social participation, distance from the nearest market and farmers’ perception. In conclusion, farmers’ information seeking behavior was determined by: ICT ownership, extension contact, participating in training, social participation and perception. The study recommended that, to create awareness on the importance of information in enhancing rural livelihood, dissemination of information through trusted channels information sources is highly needed, strengthening the existing agricultural training offering practices and extending the training on how to seek information on modern information source further needed and strengthening extension contact through individual extension contact using home and farm visit should supported by modern ICTs. Key words: Determinants, information seeking behavior, ordered ordinal logistic regression logit, smallholder farmers, Tigray, Ethiopia.
Highlights
Information is an important factor in the sustained development of any society because getting the required information on time helps to reduce uncertainty and improves the quality of decision made in solvingJ
The demand for agricultural production is growing from time to time but the land for cultivation is fixed while the population size of the study area is increasing
In the light of the above, this study investigates the information needs and seeking behavior of smallholder farmers in Tanqua Abergelle wereda
Summary
Information is an important factor in the sustained development of any society because getting the required information on time helps to reduce uncertainty and improves the quality of decision made in solvingJ. Information is an important factor in the sustained development of any society because getting the required information on time helps to reduce uncertainty and improves the quality of decision made in solving. Information is power and an important working tool for the advancement of human and society (Apata and Ogunrewo, 2010). According to Malhaam and Rao (2004), knowledge and information have become significant factors for production of goods and services. The future of food security in the developing world is increasingly becoming dependent more on information and knowledge than inputs (IFPRI, 2004). Agricultural information plays an important role in enhancing agricultural productivity. Improving the productivity of the land through application of new methods of farming and technologies is crucial. It is evident that some categories of actors may have better access to this resource than others (Leeuwis, 2004)
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