Determinant of Farmer’s Access to Communication Services for Agricultural Information in Gambella Region, Ethiopia
摘要
Access to agricultural information is vital for improving farmers’ productivity and sustainability in developing countries, such as Ethiopia. The primary objective of this study was to identify farmers’ access to communication services in the region. A purposive sampling approach was employed to select the Gambella region, and a stratified sampling procedure was used to select respondents from six Kebelles. Descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations, were used for continuous variable analysis, and frequencies and percentages were used to analyze discrete variables. Inferential statistics, such as chi-square tests and t-tests, were applied to test the relationships between discrete and continuous variables, and a binary logistic model was used to analyze the factors influencing farmers’ access to communication services. Limited access to agricultural information (35%), lack of financial support (33%), language difficulty, and low levels of education (47%) were the main barriers faced by farmers in accessing agricultural information in this study. The results of the binary logistic regression indicated that access to farm input, credit, and training significantly and positively influenced farmers access to communication services (p = 0.041; p = 0.027; p = 0.001, respectively), whereas extension contact negatively influenced farmers’ information access (p = 0.060). Farmers predominantly relied on word-of-mouth and community meetings (44%), radio broadcasts (28%), and mobile phones (14%) to access agricultural information. This study emphasizes the critical need for enhanced communication services and infrastructure to bolster agricultural extension efforts in this region. It also highlights the importance of integrating modern technology and refining communication networks to improve farmers’ access to agricultural information.