标题：Adoption and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by agricultural research institutions in information dissemination: A case study of Zimbabwe
期刊名称：International Journal of Development and Sustainability
印刷版ISSN：2186-8662
出版年度：2019
卷号：8
期号：10
页码：692-712
出版社：International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS)
摘要：The study sought to evaluate the adoption and usage of ICTs in agricultural research stations under the department of research and specialist services (DR&SS) in Zimbabwe. A questionnaire was administered to 37 employees who participated in the study. The results show that ICTs are adopted in the research institutions but most of the hardware and software used is not modern hence there is a gap in information access, generation and dissemination. Results also show that most of the employees in the research institutions have little ICT knowledge and aptitude while a few have taken short courses to augment their ICT use proficiency. However, factors such as low disposable income have contributed significantly to less priority on ICTs capacity self-building limiting its adoption. Nonetheless, employees reflected that they were willing and had time for ICTs. The study concluded that in order for effective information access, generation and dissemination, there is need to allocate enough budgets to ICTs and also upgrade on the ICT equipment that they use. For quick and effective information flow to the users, research stations have to frequently disseminate information through platforms that are more convenient to the users, specifically to resource-poor small-scale farmers who make up to 80% of farmers in Zimbabwe.
关键词：Information and Communication Technologies; Agricultural Research Institutions; Information Dissemination; Emerging Technologies; Zimbabwe
