Sources, Nature and Characteristics of Agricultural Digital Content Accessed by Smallholder Farmers in Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

This paper examined the sources, nature and characteristics of agricultural digital content accessed by smallholder farmers in Nakuru County, Kenya. Descriptive survey design was used in the study. A sample of 130 farmers and 12 Agricultural Extension staff were selected using purposive, proportionate and simple random sampling techniques. Questionnaires and focus group discussion guide were used to collect data. The results of the study indicated that 79.2 percent and 67.7 percent of smallholder farmers received agricultural digital content through listening to the local radio and TV stations that aired agricultural programmes respectively. The findings of the study also revealed that 60.8 percent of farmers used mobile phone calls while 46.9 percent used Short Messaging Services (SMS) to access agricultural digital content. e-books, journal, blogs, websites and pictures were the least used in accessing agricultural digital content among the smallholder framers. The findings of the study also indicated that the cost of receiving agricultural digital content was relatively fair for texting, making phone calls, listening to agricultural radio programmes and watching agricultural TV programmes. Agricultural digital content received by farmers through radio, TV and mobile phone calls were indicated to be good in terms of timeliness, reliability and details. The language used in receiving digital content through phone calls radio and TV were also scored highly because local language is used for interaction. Texting, phone calls, radio and TV were also rated highly in terms of relevance of content. The study concluded that there is a high interest for agricultural digital content among the smallholder farmers and that they are already accessing it majorly through radio, TV and mobile phones. There is need however, to ensure that the content is regulated by the government through an established regulatory body in order to ensure quality agricultural information is disseminated to farmers. The content should also be based on farmers’ level of knowledge and skills.