Information communication technology use pattern by women tree farmers in Buzaya county, Kamuli district, Uganda

Abstract

The roles ofwomen in community forestry in Uganda are well documented. However, the socio-cultural restrictions of women and poor access to conventional information media undermine optimization of their potentials. This study investigated Information-Communication Technology (lCT) use pattern of women tree farmers. Questionnaires were administered to 376 women tree farmers who were randomly sampled from the parishes of Bugulumbya, Kasambira and Nawandhyo, Buzaya County, Kamuli district. The findings revealed that 31% of the women own functional radio sets and prefer listening to the evening broadcast (8.00 - lO.OOp.m) for agricultural programmes. Readership of newspapers and extension publications were the other information media. About 42% of the women prefer to read the Lusoga language version of the Newspapers and extension publications because many of them could only read in vernacular,particularlyposters(52%). Most of the women enjoy traditional forms of communication particularly local music (67%). Therefore, the usc of print media or extension publications for information dissemination to women tree farmers in Uganda sbould be in their native languages. Local programmes particularly, music should be integrated into  conventional agricultural communication channels for the benefit of rural women, many of whom often have low education levels.