A4 Refereed article in a conference publication
Developing a Communication Application System for Chamwino Small-Scale Farmers in Tanzania: A Participatory Design Research
Authors: Misaki E., Apiola M., Gaiani S.
Editors: Koricic M., Butkovic Z, Skala K., Ca, Z., CicinSain M., Babic S., Sruk V., Skvorc D., Ribaric S., Gros S., Vrdoljak B., Mauher M., Tijan E., Pale P., Huljenic D., Grbac T.G., Janjic M.
Conference name: International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics
Publication year: 2019
Journal: International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics
Book title : 2019 42ND International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO)
Journal name in source: 2019 42ND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, ELECTRONICS AND MICROELECTRONICS (MIPRO)
First page : 1368
Last page: 1373
Number of pages: 6
ISBN: 978-1-5386-9296-7
eISBN: 978-953-233-098-4
ISSN: 2623-8764
DOI: https://doi.org/10.23919/MIPRO.2019.8756898
Small-scale farmers in Chamwino Tanzania, lack reliable means of communication for facilitating information flow between farmers themselves and other crop farming stakeholders. This study, therefore, sought to develop a mobile phone application system to support farming decision-making. The study employed a participatory design approach that used interviews, focus group discussions, and brainstorming for data collection and a software developer for the creation of a prototype. Thematic analysis was conducted, and the findings show that farmers require information on farming input, weather, transportation, market, crop farming policies and on agricultural research reports. Thereafter, convergent thinking facilitated the development of a mobile phone application system (mobileCHAPONA). The system enables two-way farming information flow among stakeholders (farmers, extension officers, advisory services and mediators). The system assists in the coordination of stakeholders towards improving production. Also, it is easily usable and adoptable by stakeholders aged between 24 to 44 years old, while elders above 45 years old may require a long run training to cope with innovation. It is expected that in the future, software developers, development practitioners, and policy experts will use the system, and improve it further in a manner that keeps into consideration the ecological perspectives in Sub-Saharan Africa.
