Abstract
This study examined the quality of web-based online agricultural information relevant to the maize industry in Tanzania. Selected online sources were evaluated to assess the agricultural information available in terms of four dimensions of quality, namely: authority, completeness, timeliness, and understandability. The study identified a wide variety of web-based online information on maize production, including information on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and grain-handling. It was found that the information was of variable quality. Among the 39 online sites studied, several lacked contact information, had outdated content, and contained information that was missing some important details, and none provided weather information. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on online agricultural information in an African context where the agricultural sector is central to national economic development. The online agriculture information evaluation tool used in the study can potentially be of use, in its current form or adapted, to researchers beyond Tanzania.
Publisher
Wits School of Literature, Language and Media (SLLM)
Reference60 articles.
1. Abass, A. B., Ndunguru, G., Mamiro, P., Alenkhe, B., Mlingi, N., & Bekunda, M. (2014). Post-harvest food losses in a maize-based farming system of semi- arid savannah area of Tanzania. Journal of Stored Products Research, 57, 49–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2013.12.004.
2. Abebe, Z., & Feyisa, H. (2017). Effects of nitrogen rates and time of application on yield of maize: Rainfall variability influenced time of N application. International Journal of Agronomy, 2017, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1545280
3. Abumandil, M. S., & Hassan, S. (2016). Information quality and decision-making effectiveness: A study of banks in Palestine. International Review of Management and Marketing, 6(7S), 127–132.
4. Adiaha, M. S., & Agba, O. A. (2016). Influence of different methods of fertiliser application on the growth of maize (Zea mays L.) for increase[d] production in south Nigeria. World Scientific News, 54, 73–86.
5. Adio, E. O., Abu, Y., Yusuf, S. K., & Nansoh, S. (2016). Use of agricultural information sources and services by farmers for improve productivity in Kwara State. Library Philosophy and Practice, 1456, 1–16.