Examining ugunduzi app in enhancing smallholder farmers on farmer-led research of agro-ecological practices in Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Kihoma. L | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-06-05T12:05:50Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-06-05T12:05:50Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023 | |
| dc.description | Ph.D Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: Smallholder farmers play a key role in feeding world population. In recent decades a challenge of shrinking crop productivity was observed to face many smallholder farmers, particularly in African countries. Food deficit was among significant consequences reported to affect this group. Climate change, caused by environmental pollution, is a major contributor to low food productivity performance. Transforming food production system to protect environment for climate change resilience is regarded as a better way for increasing crop productivity to meet food demand. Agro-ecological practices could suit this platform as they use natural resources in production system. Farmer-led research of agro-ecological practices (FLRAG) is considered as a key supporter to farmers on identifying best-fit among many agro-ecological practices available in their areas. In the same vein of supporting farmers, smallholder farmers in particular, SWISSAID Tanzania developed a smartphone based app named Ugunduzi aiming to uphold farmers in their research activities. The app was intended to enhance farmers on field data collection, record keeping, share information and calculate costs used and benefits obtained on a per plot basis. It was developed in 2018 with participation of farmers and ICT experts. The app started being used by a small group of 60 smallholder farmers since 2019. However, its potential in supporting farmers in FLRAG has not been documented. This study aimed to examine the ugunduzi app for validating its potential to smallholder farmers on FLRAG in Tanzania. Research methodology: The study was conducted in Bagamoyo, Masasi and Mvomero Districts, Tanzania. Before selecting participants in FLRAG and use of the ugunduzi, a baseline survey was conducted to identify factors influencing smallholder farmers to participate in the research. The aim was to set the criteria for selecting responsible participants in FLRAG by considering identified factors. Ninety smallholder farmers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data during baseline survey. Binary logit model in SPSS programme version 26 was used to analyse the data to identify factors influencing farmers to participate in FLRAG. Qualitative data were also collected and analysed using content analysis to explain what was observed with quantitative data. Thereafter, the criteria for selecting participants were formulated by considering identified factors. Smallholder farmers who met the criteria were identified from the study areas, and then 60 farmers were selected to participate in FLRAG and use the Ugunduzi app. Time series research method was used in the study. The research was conducted in three seasons of 2019, 2020 and 2021. In examining the Ugunduzi app, the study specifically intended to examine continuance intention of using the Ugunduzi app among Tanzanian smallholder farmers. This was done by examining farmers’ perception of usefulness and easiness of use which could lead to user satisfaction of the app and predict continuance intention of use. Identification of challenges on using the app and its limitation were also an aim of this study. Because farmers participated in FLRAG, investigation on the effects of agro-ecological practices in crop yield from the research was also an objective of the study. Field data were drawn from the Ugunduzi app in which participants used to collect and keep data. The data were also collected during field visits by using a structured questionnaire. Observation technique and focus group discussions were also conducted to collect qualitative data. Descriptive statistics were computed as part of quantitative data analysis to measure means and percentages. Partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using smartpls 3 was used to examine continuance intentions of using the Ugunduzi app. Excel software was used to measure average yields from agro-ecological treatments and control plots. R-software was used to determine the effects of the agro-ecological practices on crop yield from FLRAG. Findings and conclusions: From the research, it was identified that experience in farming, easiness in accessing agro-ecological inputs, interest in doing experiments and farm size were the factors that substantially influenced smallholder farmers to participate in FLRAG. On examining the Ugunduzi app, the results indicated that the app satisfied smallholder farmers and showed possibility of continuous usage by them. This was due to its usefulness on supporting them to identify best-fit agro-ecological practices and to have better future season plan through records kept in the app. The app also showed greater potential on increasing agro-ecological knowledge through sharing information to the ugunduzi web-site via the Ugunduzi app. However, difficulties on using the app among smallholder farmers were observed, especially at the early stage of using it due to some processes involved. The issues of low practical experience of using smartphones, poor network connectivity, inadequate electrical power supply and limited purchasing power of smartphones were observed as the main challenges which many smallholder farmers faced in study areas. On the limitations side, it was identified that Ugunduzi app is a one- way communication app which runs on Android based smartphones supported by a Google Chrome web browser. The app was developed to support farmers who apply agro- ecological cropping practices only and is not suitable for illiterate farmers. On the effects of agro-ecological practices on crop yield from FLRAG, the results indicate that there were positive significant effects of the practices, particularly cow dung and poultry manure, on crop yield. From the findings, it is concluded that the Ugunduzi app positively supports smallholder farmers and is a valid tool to be promoted for using by many farmers in their agro-ecological areas and farming activities. Recommendations: From the study findings, it is recommended that key stakeholders including service providers of network and electricity power suppliers should work on reducing challenges of low network and power cut-outs in the study areas and other parts in Tanzania which face the same challenges. The government of Tanzania is advised to reduce costs of purchasing smartphone devices and promote their uses due to their usefulness, including using the Ugunduzi app. It is recommended that, the Ministry of Agriculture and NGOs dealing with agro-ecology to promote the use of the Ugunduzi app in FLRAG for quality research results of identifying best practices which could increase crop productivity. ICT experts should take Ugunduzi app limitations as a way forward on developing improved apps which are more suitable to smallholder farmers in Tanzania and Africa in general. Suggestion is also provided to the government of Tanzania, through its Ministry of Agriculture to (i) promote the uses of agro-ecological practices by many farmers, cow dung and poultry manure in particular as among of strategic approaches for increasing crop yield, (ii) Encourage more FLRAG for identifying more beneficial practices by smallholder farmers, and (iii) Encourage investment in agro-ecological practices particularly cow dung and poultry manure to mitigate the problem of inadequate availability of inputs. Furthermore, on selecting participants, identified factors have to be taken into consideration on setting criteria for selecting participants in FLRAG. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | SWISSAID Tanzania project “Research and Advocacy for Agro- ecology” | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/6237 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | ugunduzi app | |
| dc.subject | smallholder | |
| dc.subject | farmers | |
| dc.subject | agro-ecological | |
| dc.subject | Tanzania | |
| dc.subject | crop productivity | |
| dc.title | Examining ugunduzi app in enhancing smallholder farmers on farmer-led research of agro-ecological practices in Tanzania | |
| dc.type | Thesis |