BARRIERS IN ACCESSING AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION IN TANZANIA WITH A

GENDER PERSPECTIVE: THE CASE STUDY OF SMALL-SCALE SUGAR CANE

GROWERS IN KILOMBERO DISTRICT
Peter O. Siya

I. Content of right to access information and interrelated rights

• The right to access information is a fundamental human right that is closely linked to other
human rights, such as the right to freedom of expression, the right to participate in decision-
making, and the right to education.
• Access to information is essential for individuals and communities to make informed
decisions and participate in the development process.
• We get a detailed analysis of the barriers that small-scale sugar cane growers face in
accessing agricultural information, including gender-related barriers and it is that lack of
access to relevant and appropriate agricultural information can limit the ability of small-scale
farmers to improve their productivity and livelihoods.

Other barriers include:

a) Lack of access to means and facilities by which information can be easily accessed.
b) Format and language of the information, which is often in electronic format or written in
English, making it difficult for small-scale farmers to access and understand.
c) Limited income to buy communication ICTs, such as radios and television sets, which would
otherwise help farmers to access agricultural information easily.
d) Cultural restrictions concerning male extension officers, which can limit the ability of female
farmers to access information and participate in decision-making processes.
e) Limited availability of relevant and appropriate agricultural information, which can lead to
the stagnation of the growth of sugar cane produced by small-scale growers.
• Recommendations on how to overcome these barriers and improve access to relevant and
appropriate agricultural information in rural areas.
a) The provision of agricultural information that is gender-sensitive and meets the needs of both
male and female farmers.
b) The establishment of telecentres as a place where information services can be provided to
the community.
c) The provision of financial support by the government to improve the use of alternative
sources of power such as solar energy and wind power in rural areas, which will enable rural
farmers to use Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as computers connected
to the internet, television, and radio to access vital agricultural information efficiently in a
cost-effective way.
d) The development of simple printed materials, such as leaflets and newsletters, that are easy
to understand and use local languages to communicate information to farmers.
e) The use of mobile phones to disseminate information to farmers, which is a cost-effective and
efficient way of reaching a large number of farmers.
f) The establishment of rural libraries and information centres to provide access to relevant and
appropriate agricultural information to small-scale farmers in rural areas.

Modern-day contemporary challenges to this right e.g. governance, gender, health, the internet etc

• Physical barriers to information accessibility are caused by poor information infrastructure or

poor communication facilities, which can limit internet usage.
What the document generally says about the right to access information

• Access to information is considered an important resource that contributes to the

development of a nation. It provides the core for the development of knowledge, it is the
basis for innovations, and is a resource for an informed citizenry, with the result that it is a
key commodity for the progress of a society
• The right to access information in promoting socio-economic development and empowering
rural communities is important. It is an indispensable factor in the practice of farming and
the basis for extension service delivery . Quick and easy access to information is of vital
importance for the development of rural areas, as it can lead to better methods of farming,
increased food and cash crop production, and self-sufficiency at the small-scale level .
• The right to access information is essential for promoting transparency, accountability, and
good governance, and for enabling citizens to participate fully in the democratic process.

There are various hindrances to information accessibility in rural areas. They can be grouped into five
categories: societal, institutional, psychological, intellectual, and physical barriers.

Societal barriers refer to the lack of availability of resources necessary for satisfying the information
needs within society.

Institutional barriers are due to the unwillingness of the information providers to share information.

Physical barriers to information accessibility are caused by poor information infrastructure or poor
communication facilities.

Psychological barriers are due to the failure of individuals to perceive their information needs or the
failure to obtain needed information from appropriate providers.

Intellectual barriers are due to the lack of education or knowledge necessary to understand and use
information effectively.

Examples of these barriers include poor communication facilities, poor transport systems, poor
power transmission and housing, high illiteracy levels, lack of knowledge on how to access
information, language barriers, lack of financial resources, and fear of accessing information by the
community.

• The lack of access to current, relevant, and appropriate agricultural information in rural areas
has led to the stagnation of growth of sugar cane produced by small-scale growers. The
provision of means and facilities by which growers can access agricultural information, rural
women empowerment and involvement in the decision-making process, and gender-
sensitive provision of agricultural information to rural farmers is recommended.
• The gender dimension of information.

Women in rural areas often face additional barriers to accessing information compared to men.
Women have difficulty gaining access to social networks, which can limit their access to information,
particularly information that is usually available through informal personal contacts. This lack of
information can contribute significantly to low productivity and poor yields of sugar cane.

There are cultural factors that hinder females from meeting males to seek agricultural information.
This is an important issue that needs further research to determine whether there are specific cultural
practices that limit women's access to information.
To address these gender-related barriers the empowerment of rural women and their involvement in
the decision-making process is recommended. A gender-sensitive provision of agricultural
information to rural farmers, which takes into account the specific needs and constraints faced by
women is also recommended.