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Assessment of Mobile Phone Digital Literacy Skills among Fish Farmers in Iringa Region, Tanzania
Author: Ronald Benard

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to assess the level of mobile phone digital literacy skills of the fish farmers. Specifically, the study focused on assessing the level of mobile phone digital literacy skills of the farmers, exploring the influence of demographic data on the level of mobile phone digital literacy skills and identifying the types of information accessed through mobile phone among fish farmers. The study was carried out in two purposefully selected districts of Iringa Region, namely Killolo and Mufindi. The study involved 100 randomly selected respondents and employed a cross-section research design. It also employed quantitative and qualitative approaches in collecting data. Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion, observation and key informants, interview were used to collect data. Quantitative data were analysed by using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of SPSS version 20. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. Overall findings indicate that the level of mobile phones digital literacy skills were low. In addition, the study revealed that fish farmers were using mobile phones in accessing information on fishpond construction, fish feeds management and selection of improved fish species. Moreover, the income, age, sex and level of education was found to have statistical significant and positive relationship with the level of mobile phone digital literacy at p<0.000. Thus, it is recommended that information services providers and other responsible organs should empower fish farmers with training on mobile phone digital literacy particularly on communication, software and problem-solving skills. It is expected that this will encourage more farmers to utilise mobile phones for accessing fish farming information.

Proceedings of  the 4th COTUL Scientific Conference, 7th-11th November, 2022