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The Use of Mobile Phones by Small Scale Farmers in Northern Ghana: Benefits and Challenges.


Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural and Resource, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
2 Department of Business Economics, Presbyterian University College Ghana, Akuapem Campus, Ghana
     

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The advent of mobile technology has found to be beneficial to farmers and as such studies have been conducted on this. The few studies in Ghana have concentrated on the Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern and Western regions with little also known about the associated challenges. Consequently, this study examined the use of mobile phones among small scale farmers in Kavilli community of the Northern region of Ghana. A total of 111 small scale farmers were purposively selected and we observed that, the mobile phones were predominantly used for communicating with family/friends and arranging for the procurement of farm inputs leading to improved communication with farm input sellers and efficient use of time. Farmers were however faced with challenges like no reception, calls ending unexpectedly and poor sound/breaking up of sound. It is recommended that, the use of mobile phones in farming activities should be encouraged.

Keywords

Small Scale Farmers, Mobile Phones, Ghana, Telecommunication, Agriculture.
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  • The Use of Mobile Phones by Small Scale Farmers in Northern Ghana: Benefits and Challenges.

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Authors

Hamdiyah Alhassan
Department of Agricultural and Resource, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
Paul Adjei Kwakwa
Department of Business Economics, Presbyterian University College Ghana, Akuapem Campus, Ghana

Abstract


The advent of mobile technology has found to be beneficial to farmers and as such studies have been conducted on this. The few studies in Ghana have concentrated on the Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern and Western regions with little also known about the associated challenges. Consequently, this study examined the use of mobile phones among small scale farmers in Kavilli community of the Northern region of Ghana. A total of 111 small scale farmers were purposively selected and we observed that, the mobile phones were predominantly used for communicating with family/friends and arranging for the procurement of farm inputs leading to improved communication with farm input sellers and efficient use of time. Farmers were however faced with challenges like no reception, calls ending unexpectedly and poor sound/breaking up of sound. It is recommended that, the use of mobile phones in farming activities should be encouraged.

Keywords


Small Scale Farmers, Mobile Phones, Ghana, Telecommunication, Agriculture.

References