Shitaye Zebenay, Tadesse Bamlaku, Enkuahone Koyachew
Bahir Dar University, College of Agriculture & Environmental Science, Ethiopia.
Debre Markos University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ethiopia.
Heliyon. 2024 Nov 12;10(22):e40344. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40344. eCollection 2024 Nov 30.
This investigation examines the various factors that impact the decision-making process of small-scale farmers in utilizing agricultural information outlets within the designated research area. A total of 403 farmers was surveyed, and the obtained data were meticulously analyzed through the implementation of a multivariate probit model. The model's analysis reveals a significant and positive correlation between farm size, membership status, credit accessibility, market proximity, extension services, total income, and willingness to share information in relation to the farmers' preference for electronic information channels. Moreover, the projected Most Valuable Player for the selection of printed outlets is favorably influenced by the level of education, farm size, total income and membership status. Conversely, frequency of market visits and proximity to development centers all adversely impact the preference for electronic outlets. Furthermore, membership status exerts a beneficial influence on the choices pertaining to outlets centered around human interaction, while family size has a detrimental effect on such choices. In addition, membership status, total income, distance to market, and extension services all exert positive influences on the selection of outlets associated with organizational entities, whereas marital status and educational attainment levels exert negative influences. Consequently, if farmers are provided with access to multiple information outlets, they are able to selectively choose the most advantageous combination of information sources to optimize their agricultural outputs. It is therefore recommended that equitable access to information outlet choices be enhanced in potential production sites, as well as in the development of rural-urban infrastructure.
本调查研究了在指定研究区域内影响小规模农户利用农业信息渠道决策过程的各种因素。共对403名农户进行了调查，并通过实施多元概率单位模型对所得数据进行了细致分析。模型分析表明，农场规模、成员身份、信贷可及性、市场距离、推广服务、总收入以及与农民对电子信息渠道偏好相关的信息共享意愿之间存在显著正相关。此外，教育水平、农场规模、总收入和成员身份对选择印刷渠道的预测最有价值参与者有积极影响。相反，市场走访频率和与发展中心的距离均对电子渠道的偏好产生不利影响。此外，成员身份对围绕人际互动的渠道选择有有益影响，而家庭规模对此类选择有不利影响。此外，成员身份、总收入、到市场的距离和推广服务均对与组织实体相关的渠道选择产生积极影响，而婚姻状况和教育程度则产生负面影响。因此，如果为农户提供多种信息渠道，他们能够有选择地选择最有利的信息源组合，以优化农业产出。因此，建议在潜在生产地点以及城乡基础设施建设中加强信息渠道选择的公平获取。
