Journal of Entrepreneurship & Management

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

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
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


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.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Ankrah, G. (2010). Improving Agricultural Productivity for Food Security and Poverty Alleviation. Prepared by CNJ Consult. Retrieved June 24, 2012 from http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/news/features/1708-improving-agric-productivityfor-food-security-and-poverty-alleviation.

  • Anríquez, G. & Stamoulis, K. (2007). Rural Development and Poverty Reduction: Is Agriculture Still the Key? ESA Working Paper No. 07-02, FAO, Rome.

  • Boadi, R. A., Boateng, R., Hinson, R. & Opoku, R. A. (2007). Preliminary Insights into M-Commerce Adoption in Ghana. Information Development, 23, pp. 253-265.

  • Furuholt, B. & Matotay, E. (2011). The Developmental Contribution from Mobile Phones across the Agricultural Value Chain in Rural Africa. EJISDC, 48(7), pp. 1-16.

  • Gollins, D., Parente, S. L. & Rogerson, R. (2002). The Role of Agriculture in Development. The American Economic Review, 92(2), pp. 160-164.

  • Goodman, J. (2005). Linking Mobile Phone Ownership and Use to Social Capital in Rural South Africa and Tanzania. The Vodafone Policy Paper Series No.3, 59, 63.

  • Kamajou, F. (2008). The Cameroon Government's Food Security Policies. A Paper Submitted to the Cameroon Academy of Science National Forum on Food Security.

  • Kwakwa, P. A. (2012). Mobile Phone Usage by Micro and Small Scale Enterprises in Semi-Rural Ghana. IRMM, 2(3), pp.156-164.

  • Lewis, W. A. (1954). Economic Development with Unlimited Supplies of Labour. The Manchester School, 22(1), pp. 139-191.

  • Mellor, J. W. (1999). Faster, More Equitable Growth–The Relation between Growth in Agriculture and Poverty Reduction. Agricultural Policy Development Project Research Report No. 4.

  • Mittal, S. & Tripathi, G. (2009). Role of Mobile Phone Technology in Improving Small Farm Productivity. Agricultural Economics Research Review, 22, pp. 451-459.

  • Martin, B. L. & Abott, E. (2011). Livelihoods: Diffusion, Uses and Perceived Impacts among Farmers in Rural Uganda. Information Technologies & International Development, 7(4), pp. 17-34.

  • Ofosu-Asare, K. (2011). Mobile Phone Revolution in Ghana’s Cocoa Industry. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 12(13), pp. 91-99.

  • Poonyth, D., Hassan, R., Kirstren, J. F. & Calcaterra, M. (2001). Is Agriciltural Sector Growth A Precondition For Economic Growth? The Case of South Africa. Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Working Paper, 2001-01.

  • Pyramid Research. (2010). The Impact of Mobile Services in Nigeria. How Mobile Technologies Are Transforming Economic and Social Activities. Pyramid Research, USA. Retrieved from http://www.pyramidresearch.com/documents/IMPACTofMobileServicesInNIGERIA.pdf.

  • Salia, M., Nsowah-Nuamah, N. N. N. & Steel, W. F. (2011). Effects of Mobile Phone Use on Artisanal Fishing Market Efficiency and Livelihoods in Ghana. The Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries, 47(6), pp. 1-26.

  • Scott, N., Batchelor, S., Jonathon, R. & Jorgensen, B. (2004). The Impact of Mobile Phones in Africa. A Paper Prepared Commission for Africa. Retrieved December 15, 2011 from http://gamos.org.uk/couksite/Projects/Docs/Mobile%20phones%20in%20Africa/Full%20.

  • Stringer, R. & Pingali, P. (2004). Agriculture’s Contributions to Economic and Social Development. Electronic Journal of Agricultural and Development Economics, 1(1), pp. 1-5.

  • Thirtle. (2003). The Impact of Research-Led Agricultural Productivity Growth on Poverty Reduction in Africa, Asia and Latin America. World Development, 31(12), pp. 1959-1975.


Abstract Views: 409

PDF Views: 2




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

Abstract Views: 409  |  PDF Views: 2

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