Abstract:
Farmers require information to carry out their agricultural activities and improve
production and hence their livelihoods. There are many factors that inhibit farmers
from accessing information, including shortage of information sources, and absence
of information systems and services that are aligned to their needs. The aim of this
study was to investigate access to and use of land-related agricultural information by
farmers in Kiambu County with a view to suggest possible solutions: to identify
farmers’ land-related agricultural information needs; examine how the farmers access
and use the information; establish the extent to which their information needs are met;
determine the challenges of accessing the information; and suggest possible solutions;
The study was informed by Niedzwiezka’s theoretical framework, “New Model of
Information Behaviour. Qualitative research approach with some aspects of
quantitative techniques was used in embedded Mixed Method. The study sampled 150
subjects randomly selected from a population of 897 farmers from the largest and the
smallest segments in a register of 28 cooperatives. Stratified random sampling
technique was used with an aim to achieve representativeness. Qualitative data was
analyzed using qualitative techniques on identified categories while quantitative data
was analyzed using descriptive statistics to summarize the findings in terms of
frequencies, percentages, and intensities. The study findings were that information
sources were deficient, and that available information systems and services were not
aligned to the needs of the farmers. Further, information infrastructure in Kiambu
County is poor and information technology is largely untapped. The study concludes
that access to and use of land related agricultural information was inadequate and
therefore farmers’ information needs were not being met sufficiently to enhance their
agricultural productivity and hence improve their livelihoods. The study recommends
that the information providers should provide information that is tailored to the
varying information needs of the farmers: national and county governments should
establish policies aimed at bringing information close to the farmers. It is also
recommended that farmers need training on access and use of information source
available in various information Centres.
