| dc.creator |
Chikuni, T. |
|
| dc.date |
2018-05-24T09:17:38Z |
|
| dc.date |
2018-05-24T09:17:38Z |
|
| dc.date |
2018 |
|
| dc.date.accessioned |
2022-10-25T08:51:04Z |
|
| dc.date.available |
2022-10-25T08:51:04Z |
|
| dc.identifier |
https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/2170 |
|
| dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/90972 |
|
| dc.description |
M.Sc. Dissertation |
|
| dc.description |
This study analyses the effect of mobile phone based market information services (MIS) on
smallholder farmers’ maize market participation in Lilongwe rural, Malawi using survey
data sourced directly from 196 smallholder farmers. The study reveals insufficient evidence
to suggest that existing mobile phone-based MIS in Malawi which entails users subscribing
to short (text) message service (SMS) price alerts, influence smallholder farmers’ market
participation decisions. Knowledge of prevailing prices is different from having the ability
to take advantage of this information, and the average Malawian smallholder farmer often
has no say in the prices they receive from vendors and lacks transportation to distant
markets where prices may be better. Consequently, farmers with no access to alternative
markets fail to improve their marketing outcomes. The findings of this study suggest that
channelling government’s resources towards improving extension services and increasing
farmers’ productivity are ideal ways to promote smallholder farmer market participation.
The findings further suggest the need to integrate radio and mobile in agricultural market
information services, and to provide farmers with information related to agricultural
production in addition to market prices. A pertinent area for further research is to assess
how to adapt the existing mobile phone-based MIS initiatives to the context of Malawi so
as to bring about significant effect. |
|
| dc.format |
application/pdf |
|
| dc.language |
en |
|
| dc.publisher |
Sokoine University of Agriculture |
|
| dc.subject |
Mobile phone |
|
| dc.subject |
Market information services |
|
| dc.subject |
Smallholder farmers |
|
| dc.subject |
Market participation |
|
| dc.subject |
Lilongwe |
|
| dc.subject |
Malawi |
|
| dc.subject |
Mobile phones |
|
| dc.title |
Mobile phone based market information services and smallholder farmers' market participation in Lilongwe, Malawi |
|
| dc.type |
Thesis |
|