African Informatics Studies (LIS Focus) | 15 April 2003
Mobile Innovations for Agricultural Information Dissemination in Senegal: A Technological Perspective
M, a, m, a, d, o, u, D, i, a, l, l, o, ,, S, e, y, n, i, B, a
Abstract
Agricultural productivity in Senegal is influenced by information dissemination regarding best farming practices, weather forecasts, and market conditions. Mobile app development was guided by user-centred design principles. A mixed-method evaluation included surveys (\(N=200)\) and focus group discussions with stakeholders. The mobile app improved access to weather forecasts, increasing usage from 25% pre-app to 78% post-app deployment across all regions of Senegal. Mobile technology significantly enhanced farmers' knowledge on best practices through targeted information delivery. Further research should explore long-term impacts and scalability of the app in other agricultural contexts. Agricultural Information Dissemination, Mobile Technology, User-Centred Design, Weather Forecasting