Use of mobile technology among rural women in Pakistan for agricultural extension information

Type Thesis or Dissertation - Master of Arts
Title Use of mobile technology among rural women in Pakistan for agricultural extension information
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2015
URL http://search.proquest.com/openview/0b09ae802ed59ce1ec1a1e2bfeb8706b/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1875​0&diss=y
Abstract
Drawing on the foundations of the theory of inclusive innovations, this study analyzes the extent
to which a marginalized group—specifically, rural women in Pakistan—utilizes the innovation
of mobile technology to access telecommunication-based agricultural extension information
services. Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan's economy, and women are around threefourths
of the total labor force employed in this sector. Despite their crucial role in the
agricultural growth of the country, this segment is often deprived of updated agricultural
extension information. The evolution of mobile technology can bridge this gap as it helps users
to access information instantaneously, moving beyond the limitations of mobility and cultural
barriers. A total of 80 rural women, in the five villages of the Lahore district, chosen by random
sampling, were interviewed through a structured questionnaire to identify whether the women
were aware of telecommunication-based agricultural extension information services, and whether
those with a higher educational qualification were more likely to use mobile technology to access
those services, compared with those who were unaware and had lower educational qualifications.
The study found that being aware of such services was not the indicator that motivated the
respondents to access the services. The cell phone is, no doubt, the most widely and frequently
used means of accessing these services. The educational qualification was significantly related to
the use of mobile technology to access telecommunication-based agricultural extension
information services.

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