Original Research

Utilisation of poultry management information in three rural districts of Tanzania

Grace Msoffe, Patrick Ngulube
South African Journal of Information Management | Vol 19, No 1 | a729 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajim.v19i1.729 | © 2017 Grace Msoffe, Patrick Ngulube | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 03 December 2015 | Published: 28 February 2017

About the author(s)

Grace Msoffe, University of Dodoma Library, University of Dodoma, Tanzania, United Republic of
Patrick Ngulube, Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Postgraduate Studies, University of South Africa, South Africa

Abstract

Background: In Tanzania, poultry farming plays an important role in improving rural livelihoods and contributes to the national economy. Promoting utilisation of poultry management information can support farmers in making good decisions and translate into efficiency in poultry production.

Objective: Being part of a PhD project, this study assessed the utilisation of poultry management information among farmers in three rural districts of Tanzania. The objective was to establish the extent of information use, types of information used, the constraints faced by farmers in using information and the strategies used by information providers to ensure farmers use the information.

Method: Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using questionnaires, focus group discussions and interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using the SPSS© software, and the meaning of qualitative data was established using content analysis.

Results: The findings revealed that most of the farmers used poultry management information. Information on disease control, poultry protection and markets was the most used. Information on poultry production and hatching were the least used. Poultry farmers faced various challenges in the course of using poultry management information. Most of the challenges were linked to poverty, ignorance and limited literacy.

Conclusion: The study concludes that farmers in the surveyed communities had limited skills on utilising information. The findings necessitate a need for information providers to ensure that farmers are well informed of the benefits of utilising information. It is recommended that imparting skills for information use be considered as part of information provision in rural communities, as it would facilitate use of information.


Keywords

information needs; information use; poultry farmers; Tanzania

Metrics

Total abstract views: 5173
Total article views: 5349


Crossref Citations

No related citations found.