Developmental Contribution from Mobile Phones Across the Agricultural Value Chain in Rural Africa

[Knowledge base]

Journal article published by Bjorn Furuholt, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway and Edmund Matotay, Mzumbe University, Tanzania in The Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries.

ABSTRACT

The most widespread information and communication technology (ICT) in developing countries today is the mobile phone. The majority of people in the least developed countries still live in rural areas and their livelihood depends on the primary industries. This study investigates the use of mobile phones among farmers in rural Tanzania in order to supply empirical data on the developmental role of this technology. The results show that the improved access to communication and information that mobile phones represent affects the entire cyclic farming life during the year and has resulted in considerable changes in the entire livelihood constructs, increased opportunities and reduced risks for rural farmers.