The following information was submitted:
Transactions: WSEAS TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTERS
Transactions ID Number: 52-123
Full Name: Wen-I Chang
Position: Doctor (Researcher)
Age: ON
Sex: Female
Address: National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, 1 Hsueh Fu Road, Neipu Hsiang, Pingtung, 91201, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Country: TAIWAN
Tel: +886-912414410
Tel prefix:
Fax: +886-87740446
E-mail address: se73traore@gmail.com
Other E-mails: se73traore@hotmail.com
Title of the Paper: Market Information Needs Risk Assessment toward ICT Usage for Green Bean Producers in Dakar Region of Senegal
Authors as they appear in the Paper: Wen-I Chang and Chao-Lin Tuan
Email addresses of all the authors: se73traore@gmail.com;se73traore@hotmail.com
Number of paper pages: 12
Abstract: In Senegal, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been applied to accelerate the development of horticulture. Farmers can access information about weather, market price, and production volume through the ICT-based information systems. However, little is known about the nature and limitations of actual ICT usage among farmers in rural areas. Green bean is one of the dominant garden crops in Senegal, and market information is crucial to its farm management. Therefore, this study aims to assess the marketing risks, ICT usage, and information needs of green bean producers to further promote the use of ICT-based information systems. A survey was conducted in Dakar Region, the chief production area of green bean in Senegal. From the results of this study, it is found that perishability and competition were the main marketing risks of green bean producers. Mobile phone and telecentre were the most commonly adopted ICT in their daily life. Their key inform!
ation needs included wholesale, retail, and input prices. Language and cost were the major limiting factors in further usage of ICT. Furthermore, female producers showed vulnerability in price risk. Younger producers appeared to have relatively higher usage of TV and household telephone while older producers had higher usage of radio usage. Similarly, higher education was positively correlated to higher information needs on weather and agricultural policy. Among ethnic groups, Serer and other ethnic minority groups appeared to be more vulnerable to marketing risks. Members of producers' associations seemed to have less concern about marketing risks and higher radio usage. Meanwhile, telecentre users showed higher marketing risks and greater information needs, indicating the telecentre as one of the key media to assist the vast uses. In sum, the findings of this study suggested tailored information requires handy media and proper format to reach rural producers. Based on the!
results, there is a necessity to develop an information system suppor
ted by voice service in local dialects as well as reliable and cost effective power sources. Finally, a research model for horticultural market information systems is also proposed to meet users' needs and enhance growth opportunities for horticulture industry in Senegal.
Keywords: Green bean, Horticultural marketing, ICT usage, Information needs, Marketing risks, Senegal
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