Role of mobile telephones in enhancing women’s participation in the commercialisation of potato farming in Kabale District

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the impact of mobile telephones in enhancing women’s participation in the commercialization of potato farming in Kabale district. The objectives of the study are to; i) assess the extent of participation in the commercialization of Potato farming amongst women famers in Kabale district, ii) establish the roles that Mobile telephones play in the participation of women in the commercialization of Potato farming, iii) examine the challenges constraining women from participating in the commercialization of Potato farming using mobile telephones, and iv) identify strategies for promoting the participation of women in Potato farming commercialization in the study area using mobile phones. The study used questionnaires and interviews to collect data from a sample size of 45 women farmers, key informant interviews to collect qualitative data from 12 key informants who included zonal leaders and extension workers and 4 FGDs to collect data from women potato farmers in two sub counties of Kitumba and Kaharo. Findings revealed that of the total women potato farmers 15% participate in potato commercialization. The major roles of mobile telephones in commercialization of potato among women farmers were; enabling information access (31%), access to market information (28%), communication (18%), access to extension services (16%), and access to value addition information (7%). The barriers constraining women from participating in the commercialization of Potato farming using mobile telephones were; lack of power to own resources like mobile phones (33%), low-income levels, (25%), poor network penetration (16%), high cost of maintenance (15%) and technology illiteracy (11%). The major strategies for promoting the participation of women in Potato farming commercialization in Kabale district were; sensitization of men to promote equality (36%) and provision of mobile phones to women farmer groups at (31%), others include, awareness campaigns, promoting girl child education and enhancing network penetration. This study underscores the critical role of mobile phones in bridging information gaps and empowering women in the commercialization of Potato farming, thereby contributing to agricultural development and poverty reduction in Kabale district. The study concludes that the roles of mobile phones empower women farmers by providing them with tools to access markets more efficiently, obtain timely agricultural information, receive expert advice remotely, and coordinate with stakeholders involved in value addition processes. The study recommends that government should allocate resources for infrastructure development, particularly in rural areas, to improve network connectivity and expand access to mobile technology