Design and evaluate a community-based mobile extension service for smallholder farmers

Thesis Abstract

Smallholder farmers face significant challenges in accessing timely, relevant, and reliable agricultural extension information, which impedes productivity, sustainability, and livelihood improvements in rural communities. Conventional extension methods often fail to meet the dynamic needs of farmers due to logistical constraints, limited reach, and the rapid pace of technological change. This study aims to design, implement, and evaluate a community-based mobile extension service tailored to smallholder farmers’ needs, with the goal of enhancing access to agricultural knowledge and practices. The specific objectives include assessing farmers’ information needs, developing a culturally appropriate mobile extension platform, evaluating user acceptance and engagement, and measuring impacts on farming practices and productivity. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study integrates qualitative methods for formative assessment and platform development, with quantitative approaches to evaluate effectiveness. The population comprises smallholder farmers actively engaged in crop and livestock production within a targeted rural district. A stratified random sampling technique was employed to select 300 farmers for the quantitative survey, complemented by focus group discussions and key informant interviews involving 30 farmers, extension agents, and community leaders for qualitative insights. Data collection instruments included structured questionnaires, interview guides, and usage logs of the mobile application, with validity ensured through content validation by agricultural communication experts and reliability tested via Cronbach’s alpha (?=0.85). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics to profile the farmers and their informational needs, while inferential techniques such as multiple regression analysis and paired t-tests evaluated the relationship between mobile extension engagement and changes in farming practices and yields. Qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis, guided by the Diffusion of Innovations theory and the Technology Acceptance Model, to understand factors influencing adoption and sustained use. Expected findings suggest that the community-based mobile extension service significantly increases farmers’ access to tailored, timely agricultural information, resulting in improved adoption of recommended practices, higher productivity, and enhanced livelihoods. The study anticipates identifying key factors affecting user acceptance, such as perceived usefulness, ease of use, and community support, which influence the platform’s adoption rate. The findings will demonstrate that the integration of community engagement with mobile technology offers a viable, scalable model for extension service delivery in rural settings. The study contributes to knowledge by providing empirical evidence on the design and effectiveness of mobile-based extension services grounded in community participation, advancing theoretical understanding of technology adoption in rural agriculture, and presenting a replicable framework for practitioners and policymakers. It emphasizes the importance of contextual customization and participatory approaches to improve extension uptake and farmer empowerment. The main conclusion emphasizes that community-based mobile extension services can bridge the gap between formal extension systems and smallholder farmers, fostering sustainable agricultural development. Based on the findings, it is recommended that agricultural agencies invest in culturally and contextually relevant mobile platforms, foster community ownership, and continuously monitor and evaluate user engagement to ensure sustained impact. Future research should explore longitudinal impacts, scalability across different regions, and integration with other digital innovations to support comprehensive agricultural development.