Strawberry Growers' Perception of the Importance of Using Information and Communication Technology in Improving Crop Quality and Marketing Value (A Field Study in Qalyubia Governorate)
Said Abd-Elkader Mohamed, R. (2023). Strawberry Growers' Perception of the Importance of Using Information and Communication Technology in Improving Crop Quality and Marketing Value (A Field Study in Qalyubia Governorate). EKB Journal Management System, 10(1), 51-78. doi: 10.21608/esm.2023.464389
Rabab Said Abd-Elkader Mohamed. "Strawberry Growers' Perception of the Importance of Using Information and Communication Technology in Improving Crop Quality and Marketing Value (A Field Study in Qalyubia Governorate)". EKB Journal Management System, 10, 1, 2023, 51-78. doi: 10.21608/esm.2023.464389
Said Abd-Elkader Mohamed, R. (2023). 'Strawberry Growers' Perception of the Importance of Using Information and Communication Technology in Improving Crop Quality and Marketing Value (A Field Study in Qalyubia Governorate)', EKB Journal Management System, 10(1), pp. 51-78. doi: 10.21608/esm.2023.464389
Said Abd-Elkader Mohamed, R. Strawberry Growers' Perception of the Importance of Using Information and Communication Technology in Improving Crop Quality and Marketing Value (A Field Study in Qalyubia Governorate). EKB Journal Management System, 2023; 10(1): 51-78. doi: 10.21608/esm.2023.464389

Strawberry Growers' Perception of the Importance of Using Information and Communication Technology in Improving Crop Quality and Marketing Value (A Field Study in Qalyubia Governorate)

The Egyptian Science Magazine
Volume 10, Issue 1, December 2023, Pages 51-78    PDF (984 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/esm.2023.464389
Author
Rabab Said Abd-Elkader Mohamed*
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension - Faculty of Agriculture - Benha University
Abstract
This research aimed to determine strawberry growers' perception level regarding the importance of using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to improve crop quality and enhance marketing value in Mit Kenana and Arab El-Ghadir villages, Toukh District, Qalyubia Governorate. The study identified growers' personal characteristics, measured their perception levels, determined the impact of key independent variables on this perception, and recognized the most-used applications and primary challenges faced. Employing a social survey methodology, a specially designed questionnaire was administered to a systematic random sample of 118 strawberry growers, representing 10% of the total growers in both villages. Data were collected during February and March 2023 through personal interviews using a pre-tested questionnaire. Statistical analysis included the Arithmetic Mean, frequency distributions with percentages, Pearson correlation coefficient, Cronbach's Alpha, and non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney).
Results indicated that 83.1% of respondents had low to medium perception levels of ICT importance, while only 16.9% demonstrated high perception. Statistically significant differences were found in perception levels among different age groups (χ² = 7.839, p = 0.02) and educational levels (χ² = 63.323, p = 0.000). Key variables positively influencing perception, besides education and age, included degree of contact with change agents, farm size, and leadership level. Social media applications were the most frequently used (94.92%), while the most critical problems were irregular electricity supply (96.61%) and poor internet service (93.22%).
Keywords
Perception-Information; and Communication Technology (ICT) - Strawberry Cultivation - Crop Quality - Technology Adoption- Agricultural Extension
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