Retooling GSM-based Services to Link Rural Farmers with Knowledge Experts

Abstract

Information is one of the most important elements that support the agriculture industry today. ICT-based information systems such as social media, websites, multimedia, mobile apps and other technology driven initiatives were initiated by organizations to disseminate knowledge products. However, with most third world country’s poor ICT infrastructure furthered by the involvement of technology deprived users, an ICT tool to share information has to be chosen well noting its availability, applicability and practicality for the common end-users. This quantitative research explores and establishes the use of GSM-based services for its potential role as an alternative communication and information sharing/access tool for both rural farmers and knowledge experts such as the academe. It is a fact that basic or traditional way of texting and voice calls have been in use in the past decade as communication tool. However, this study’s aim is to establish a theoretical GSM-based model framework that integrates new technological and management features to upscale this service thus, the term “retooling”. The result of this study will be the basis of the actual implementation of the framework as the succeeding part of this study. This paper’s output can be used as guide for researchers, academicians, extension service workers, project managers as well as organizations planning to offer similar technology-based services in various fields.