Assessment of rural households’ mobile phone usage status for rural innovation services in Gomma Woreda, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

The mobile phone technology is an important tool to enhance farmers’ to access better marketing services, agricultural extension services, health extension services and other mobile services. This study also tried to assess rural households’ mobile phone usage status for different rural innovation services in Gomma Woreda, Southwest Ethiopia. Structured interview schedule, focus group discussion, key informant interview and personal observations were used as a method of data collection tools for this study. Multi-stage sampling technique was used for this study and data were collected by using both primary and secondary source of data. Also the data were collected from 188 sample household head respondents who are using mobile phone for accessing different rural innovation services. Descriptive statistics including frequency, mean, standard deviation and percentage was used for this study. Most of the rural households used mobile phone for marketing services followed by other mobile services (news services, as torch and calculator services). The farmers who were educated more were used different innovation services through mobile phone rather less educated farmers. Finally, the rural household usage of mobile phone for different rural innovation services needed to be supported by stakeholders to solve the problems of mobile phone utilization in rural areas.