Role of ICTs in Adoption of Soil & Water Conservation Technologies. The role of ICTs in Adoption of Soil & Water Conservation Technologies for Smallholder farmers

      Аннотация: The objective of this study was to identify the role of ICT in adoption of soil and water conservation technologies by smallholders in low and high potential districts of Kenya. Guiding the study was Diffusion of Innovation theory by Rodgers Everret and, Holistic Management theory by Allan Savory. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected across Kajiado North district representing the low potential areas of Kenya, and Lugari district representing the high potential areas. This study interviewed 120 smallholder households who provided quantitative data. It was established that women dominate farming activities across the two systems; the males were passive actors in smallholder farming opting for alternative livelihood activities. Among the adopted SWC technologies were gabions, strip cropping, terracing, tree planting and water harvesting. This study established that lack of technical advice from agricultural experts as a major problem facing smallholders across both farming systems. The Radio, Mobile Phones and Farmer Field Days were the most preferred communication platforms for SWC technologies. The Internet was not preferred in either of the farming systems studied.

Ключевые слова: Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), Adoption, soil and water conservation