Sources and knowledge of smallholder farmers in agricultural information in Mvomero District, Tanzania: Where does misinformation originate?

Abstract

This study examined the access to sources and knowledge of smallholder farmers in agricultural information in Mvomero District, Tanzania, and identified the origin of misinformation among these farmers. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, including a survey of 192 smallholder farmers and interviews with agricultural extension officers and key informants. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design involving both qualitative and quantitative research methods through key informant interviews and questionnaires respectively. Descriptive statistics results indicated that more than half of the respondents (70%) were poorly accessing the reliable agricultural information. Furthermore, more than three quarters of the respondents (96%) had high level of knowledge on agricultural misinformation but still, they could not well access reliable agricultural information. Likewise, more than half of respondents (74.5%) accessed agricultural information through farmers – farmers while half of respondents (50%) accessed agricultural information through other sources such as radio, television, mobile phones, smartphones, and extension officers, and this may be a problem in accessing the reliable agricultural information. Additionally, the study revealed that misinformation among smallholder farmers originates from various sources, including fellow farmers, traditional beliefs, and inadequate agricultural extension services. The study recommends interventions to improve smallholder farmers' access to agricultural information, including expanding communication channels and improving agricultural extension services, to mitigate the spread of misinformation.