Social Media as Tools for Agricultural Extension in Uganda: A Text Mining Approach

Abstract

The article discusses the potential of social media as a tool for agricultural extension in Uganda. The authors argue that social media platforms, such as Facebook, X formerly Twitter, WhatsApp, and YouTube, offer a range of opportunities for communication, information sharing, and collaboration among farmers. The study is guided by the Media Richness Theory, which asserts that channels of information based on technology are more effective for transmitting text than other media. The article highlights the challenges faced by traditional extension approaches in reaching remote areas and delivering timely and personalized advice, and suggests that social media can help overcome these challenges. Despite the potential benefits, the authors note that there is limited research on how social media can be effectively utilized for agricultural extension purposes in Uganda. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for agricultural extension workers to utilize social media to engage farmers and improve the effectiveness of agricultural extension services.