Barriers to Sugarcane Production Information Access via ICT: Perceptions of Extension Officers and Smallholder Sugarcane Growers in Swaziland
Mbuyazwe M. Dlamini *
Agricultural Education and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Swaziland, P.O.Box M205, Luyengo, Swaziland.
Steven Worth
Agricultural Extension and Rural Resource Management, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Post Bag X 01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This paper aims at investigating barrier to sugarcane production information access via ICT among the Swaziland sugar industry stakeholders as perceived by extension officers and smallholder sugarcane farmers. The study was a census involving all active smallholder sugarcane farmers (N=172) in Swaziland and their extension officers (N=17). Quantitative data were collected through personal interviews using a valid and reliable structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were applied to analyse the data using SPSS version 20 statistical software. The results of the study revealed that sugarcane farmers do not perceive any of the barriers to be a hindrance to information access via ICT. However, extension officers differed regarding some of these barriers. The study also revealed that gender, educational level and respondents’ job category had a significant influence on the perceptions of the respondents. Therefore, these demographic variables must be considered when planning the introduction of ICTs to enhance information access among the sugar industry stakeholders. The results of this study could provide guidance to the government or relevant organisation when considering barriers that may hinder the use of ICTs for information access.
Keywords: Extension, ICT, sugarcane, barriers, smallholder farmers, Swaziland.