Information needs and accessibility by fish farmers in the southern highlands of Tanzania
Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication
ISSN: 2514-9342
Article publication date: 6 August 2018
Issue publication date: 10 August 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the information needs and accessibility for fish farmers in the Southern high lands of Tanzania.
Design/methodology/approach
Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 240 fish farmers in six selected districts from three regions in Southern high lands of Tanzania. Focus groups and key informants’ interviews were also used to collect qualitative data from 54 fish farmers in the selected districts.
Findings
Findings indicated that fish farmers highly needed information related to water treatment (management), spawning operations and fish preservation and processing. However, it was found that access to these categories of information was very low. In addition, findings indicated that age, education and income have a statistical significant and positive relationship with farmer’s information accessibility at p < 0.05. On the other hand, age, amount of fish harvested, education and farming experience had statistical significant and negative relationship with farmer’s information at p < 0.05.
Originality/value
The study provides a deep understanding of information needs and accessibility for fish farmers in the in Southern high lands of Tanzania, which will be assisting in in designing focused, need-based and user-oriented information infrastructure in fish farming.
Keywords
Citation
Benard, R., Dulle, F.W. and Hieromin, L.A. (2018), "Information needs and accessibility by fish farmers in the southern highlands of Tanzania", Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, Vol. 67 No. 4/5, pp. 209-225. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-08-2017-0070
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited