Examining fishermen’s use of information and communication technologies for information sharing and dissemination at Mindu Dam in Morogoro, Tanzania

Résumé

This paper aimed to examine the use of digital technology for disseminating information among fishermen around the Mindu Dam in Morogoro, Tanzania. Informed by the Innovation (DOI) Theory and Wilson’s model of information-seeking behavior, the study used a mixed research approach, involving both quantitative and qualitative methods. While simple random sampling techniques were used, the data collection tools used were questionnaires and key informants’ interviews. Data was collected from 82 fishermen who were randomly selected from the fishing community in Mindu Dam. Data analysis used the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), while content analysis was used for qualitative data. The study found that the most frequently used ICTs by fish farmers in sharing agricultural information were mobile phones, radio, and television. Furthermore, the study revealed that major challenges facing fish farmers in sharing information include unfavorable radio or television broadcast times, high costs of acquiring and maintaining ICT facilities, lack of ICT training, poor network connectivity, and low literacy levels. The research emphasizes the critical role of mobile phones, internet services, and other digital technologies in improving communication, obtaining market information, and executing financial transactions. The study demonstrates notable enhancements in decision-making and general management efficiency by examining how these communities and managers utilize digital technologies. It also delineates obstacles to successful technology adoption, such as resistance to change and a lack of training, and offers strategies to overcome them, including targeted training programs and community engagement initiatives. The findings highlight the capacity of digital technology to enhance sustainable livelihoods and economic development in the fishing sector, hence, cultivating a more resilient and informed community. While the study indicated that fishermen in the Mindu Dam regularly used mobile phones, radios, and televisions to exchange and disseminate information, fishermen encountered multiple challenges in utilizing ICTs for the sharing and dissemination of fishing information. Therefore, the study recommends that the challenges encountered by fishermen in utilizing ICTs be addressed through the pertinent ministry; via its extension personnel, it should incentivize and conduct regular training sessions for these communities on the use of ICTs (mobile phones, radios, and television) to enhance their proficiency and skills in accessing and disseminating fishing information.