Potential of Using ICT Tools for Crop Diseases Management among Heterogenous Farmers in Rwanda

Social interactions among farmers, extension agents, and government officials play a critical role in knowledge development and exchange, uptake of new practices, collective decision-making in agricultural practices. Smartphones and new communication tools are likely to transform the way information exchange and social interactions take place. However, how these ICT developments will influence the communication and social interactions among farmers, and the decision-making of farmers are intriguing questions, yet to be studied. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the use and experience of ICT of banana growers in Rwanda within the context of establishing an effective method for prevention and control of Banana Xanthomas Wilt (BXW), an infectious plant disease. Specifically, we want to assess whether farm clusters associate with the different behaviors and perceptions of the use of ICT. A structured questionnaire was used to collect household information from banana growers (n=690) in 8 representative districts. A combination of principal component analysis and cluster analysis was used to develop a farmer typology of banana growers. Three types of banana growers were identified, namely, i) Beer banana farmers, ii) Livestock-based farmers, and iii) Cooking banana farmers. We then conducted a statistical analysis to regress the use of ICT on the farmer typology and other socioeconomic control variables. Results showed that cooking banana-based farmers are more likely to own a smartphone and perceive ICT as very useful in effective control of BXW whereas beer banana farmers are less likely to own a smartphone, and they tend to perceive ICT as irrelevant in controlling BXW. Beer banana farmers are mainly limited by not knowing how to use these services which are associated with their low level of literacy while Livestock farmers prefer to get information from other sources. The studied farmers provide the potential for using ICT (Mobile based) extension services however beer banana farmers, less likely to own smartphones, are limited to few options.