African GIS Applications (Technology/Methodology) | 13 October 2000
Leveraging Mobile Technologies for Agricultural Information Dissemination in Senegal: A Methodological Framework
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Abstract
Agricultural productivity in Senegal is hindered by limited access to timely information about crop management, market prices, and weather forecasts. Mobile technology can bridge this gap by providing farmers with relevant agricultural advisories directly on their mobile devices. The methodology involves the design and implementation of an SMS-based advisory system combined with a web portal. Data collection will be through surveys and usage analytics from both platforms. Statistical analyses will employ logistic regression models to assess adoption rates and impact on agricultural outcomes. Among the 150 farmers surveyed, 72% reported using the mobile app for at least one week, indicating moderate engagement but suggesting potential for broader use if incentives are provided. Usage data also revealed a preference for information related to market prices and weather forecasts over crop management advice. The framework demonstrates that targeted mobile interventions can significantly improve agricultural knowledge dissemination in Senegal, though further research is needed to optimise user experience and impact metrics. Future studies should explore the economic benefits of such systems for farmers, as well as their scalability across different regions within Senegal. Additionally, incorporating more interactive features like video tutorials could enhance user engagement. Agricultural Information Dissemination, Mobile Technology, Logistic Regression, User Engagement Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin<em>{\theta}\sum</em>i\ell(y<em>i,f</em>\theta(x<em>i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert</em>2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.