Mobile phone intervention for Sri Lankan mushroom producers
It is well-known that traditional methods of technology dissemination are not cost-effective; and that extension agencies are limited very much by personnel resources in approaching the clientele they need to contact. Therefore, at present, many sectors of the world economies are attracted to the us...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Emerald Publishing
2014-09-01
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| Series: | AAOU Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AAOUJ-09-01-2014-B006/full/pdf?title=mobile-phone-intervention-for-sri-lankan-mushroom-producers |
| _version_ | 1827880815125594112 |
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| author | Mahinda Wijeratne Nilantha De Silva |
| author_facet | Mahinda Wijeratne Nilantha De Silva |
| author_sort | Mahinda Wijeratne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is well-known that traditional methods of technology dissemination are not cost-effective; and that extension agencies are limited very much by personnel resources in approaching the clientele they need to contact. Therefore, at present, many sectors of the world economies are attracted to the use of ICT for technology dissemination. However, such interventions are not common in the agricultural sector, especially in developing countries. Realizing this, the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, implemented a programme ‘Lifelong Learning for Farmers’ (L3F), employing ICT as one of its components. For this programme, the University of Ruhuna collaborated with the mobile phone company Mobitel(PLC) Ltd and developed an IVR (interactive voice response) system to approach clients. Mushroom production is essentially small-scale and remains a cottage industry. In order to raise the living standards, it is necessary to provide scientific information to scattered production units. Such efforts will turn them into commercial producers and provide an opportunity to compete in the local and foreign markets. This investigation focuses on the use ofmobile phones for technology dissemination to small-scale mushroom producers. The IVR system embedded different two-minute messages employing ODL techniques over six months. The entire series of lessons included the establishment of a mushroom shed; the preparation of the growing medium; filling bags and sterilization; inoculation and incubation of mushroom spawns; harvesting; pests and disease control; processing and preservation; seed production; and business planningand financial management. The results showed that 5,583 clients listen to the lessons; and, according to the spatial distribution, the majority of them were from wet zone districts as the climatic conditions are favourable for the enterprise. However, feedback is still limited. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T18:29:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f549e8cba1674e6c9dfa1efbf67593ab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1858-3431 2414-6994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T18:29:33Z |
| publishDate | 2014-09-01 |
| publisher | Emerald Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AAOU Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-f549e8cba1674e6c9dfa1efbf67593ab2023-08-02T08:25:54ZengEmerald PublishingAAOU Journal1858-34312414-69942014-09-0191576310.1108/AAOUJ-09-01-2014-B006Mobile phone intervention for Sri Lankan mushroom producersMahinda Wijeratne0Nilantha De Silva1Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana, Kamburupitiya, Sri LankaDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana, Kamburupitiya, Sri LankaIt is well-known that traditional methods of technology dissemination are not cost-effective; and that extension agencies are limited very much by personnel resources in approaching the clientele they need to contact. Therefore, at present, many sectors of the world economies are attracted to the use of ICT for technology dissemination. However, such interventions are not common in the agricultural sector, especially in developing countries. Realizing this, the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, implemented a programme ‘Lifelong Learning for Farmers’ (L3F), employing ICT as one of its components. For this programme, the University of Ruhuna collaborated with the mobile phone company Mobitel(PLC) Ltd and developed an IVR (interactive voice response) system to approach clients. Mushroom production is essentially small-scale and remains a cottage industry. In order to raise the living standards, it is necessary to provide scientific information to scattered production units. Such efforts will turn them into commercial producers and provide an opportunity to compete in the local and foreign markets. This investigation focuses on the use ofmobile phones for technology dissemination to small-scale mushroom producers. The IVR system embedded different two-minute messages employing ODL techniques over six months. The entire series of lessons included the establishment of a mushroom shed; the preparation of the growing medium; filling bags and sterilization; inoculation and incubation of mushroom spawns; harvesting; pests and disease control; processing and preservation; seed production; and business planningand financial management. The results showed that 5,583 clients listen to the lessons; and, according to the spatial distribution, the majority of them were from wet zone districts as the climatic conditions are favourable for the enterprise. However, feedback is still limited.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AAOUJ-09-01-2014-B006/full/pdf?title=mobile-phone-intervention-for-sri-lankan-mushroom-producersinterventionmobile phonesmushrooms |
| spellingShingle | Mahinda Wijeratne Nilantha De Silva Mobile phone intervention for Sri Lankan mushroom producers AAOU Journal intervention mobile phones mushrooms |
| title | Mobile phone intervention for Sri Lankan mushroom producers |
| title_full | Mobile phone intervention for Sri Lankan mushroom producers |
| title_fullStr | Mobile phone intervention for Sri Lankan mushroom producers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mobile phone intervention for Sri Lankan mushroom producers |
| title_short | Mobile phone intervention for Sri Lankan mushroom producers |
| title_sort | mobile phone intervention for sri lankan mushroom producers |
| topic | intervention mobile phones mushrooms |
| url | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AAOUJ-09-01-2014-B006/full/pdf?title=mobile-phone-intervention-for-sri-lankan-mushroom-producers |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mahindawijeratne mobilephoneinterventionforsrilankanmushroomproducers AT nilanthadesilva mobilephoneinterventionforsrilankanmushroomproducers |