Use of low cost information communication technologies for knowledge mobilization in agricultural communities in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The potential role and significance of mobilization of scientific and indigenous knowledge to promote sustainable agriculture is well recognized. Yet, the inherent features associated with traditional agricultural extension methods and high costs of information provision act as the major barriers to improving the livelihood of farmers, especially those from developing countries characterized by subsistence agricultural systems. On this rationale, this study examined empirically the potential use of low cost information communication technologies (ICTs) for knowledge mobilization in rural agricultural communities in Sri Lanka. A series of pilot-tested field experiments, termed as “campaigns” and each programmed to run within 2 to 3 months in a selected agricultural community, were carried out in the Batticaloa, Kurunegala and Matale districts during April to September 2014 to collect data from 210 households. Three identified low cost user-friendly Free and Open Source (FOSS) ICTs, namely: (1) Frontline SMS for text messaging; (2) Ushahidi for crowd mapping, and (3) Freedom Fone for interactive voice response were practiced in order to evaluate the use and relative effectiveness of ICTs for agricultural knowledge mobilization. The outcome of the study shows that ICTs interventions increase the information provided to the stakeholders in the agriculture sector by about 40% and, more importantly, diminish the transaction costs incurred in the process of knowledge mobilization (i.e. cost of searching, negotiating and verification of information) markedly; thereby, can act as a drive for positive changes in the livelihood of agriculture-based rural communities.