Information Needs and Sources Used by Urban Vegetable Farmers. A Case of Vegetable Farmers in Morogoro Municipality

Abstract

While the role of information in improving vegetable farming in urban areas is widely acknowledged in the literature, its potential cannot be realized unless the information needs that enlighten the stakeholders about appropriate information sources are known. This is because vegetable farming is an information-intensive endeavor full of uncertainties. The study investigated the perceived implication of extension services, information needs, and sources used by vegetable farmers in Morogoro urban Tanzania. A quantitative method research design was used to collect data from 60 respondents. A questionnaire was used in the data collection process. Descriptive analysis was used for analyzing quantitative data. The findings show farmers needed information on pest and disease control, amount and type of fertilizer to apply, produce market, and storage. Fellow farmers (friends and colleagues) ranked as an important source of information followed by public extension officers, researchers, NGOs, input suppliers, Nanenane exhibitions, individual farmers, social networks, books and fliers, and hired extension officers.Recommendations have been provided that, equip vegetable farmers with the up-to-date knowledge and skills to shape farmers’ knowledge through various extension trainings in their localities, by doing this, farmers will increase awareness of multiple challenges about vegetable production. Employing more skilled extension officers with expertise in horticultural crops and use of modern ICT facilities to improve vegetable farmers’ access to information.