INFORMATION MANAGEMENT USING ICTs TO ACCESS SUGARCANE PRODUCTION INFORMATION IN SWAZILAND: PERCEPTIONS OF SMALLHOLDER SUGARCANE FARMERS AND EXTENSION OFFICERS
Authors:
Mbuyazwe M. Dlamini and Prof Steven Worth
Abstract:
The sugar industry of Swaziland has the greatest potential for improving rural livelihoods and at the same time eradicates poverty through increased productivity. This paper investigates the manner in which sugarcane information and knowledge is managed via ICTs within the sugar industry of Swaziland to improve smallholder farmer productivity. The study was a census involving all active smallholder sugarcane farmers (N=172) and their Extension officers (N=17). Quantitative data was collected through face to face interviews using structured questionnaires and the data was analysed using SPSS version 20 statistical software. The results of the study revealed that most of the respondents were middle aged, married males, with tertiary education levels and 1 – vol 5 years sugarcane production experience. Almost all the farmers owned mobile phones which they mainly utilized for accessing sugarcane production information. Most respondents highlighted that they frequently use their mobile phones to relay information via voice calls. The Swaziland Sugar Association emerged as the main source of production information and capable of relaying information on time. The study also revealed that the highest frequency of communication within the sugar industry is between farmers and extension officers and visits between the two are most frequently initiated by requests from farmers. All the sugarcane production information from land preparation, planting, irrigation, weed control up to harvesting were rated by all respondents as highly required. These findings are crucial in the development of an improved information management system that will empower smallholder sugarcane farmers in decision making thereby improving their productivity.