Information needs and use among urban farmers in Kampala district in Uganda

Abstract

The paper presents results of a study on information needs and use among urban farmers in Kampala City in Uganda. An information need is recognition that one's knowledge is inadequate to satisfy a goal. Urban farming is characterized by low agricultural production leading to food insecurity. Although urban farming is viewed as an important survival strategy, the information needs of urban farmers in Kampala City are not known. The study used both qualitative and quantitative study design. Methods used were face-to face interview and focus group discussion. Respondents included 380 urban farmers and 36 focus group respondents. Results show that the information needs of the urban farmers were as varied as the heterogeneity of their agricultural enterprises and information was used for different purposes and depended on the type of farming enterprise(s) and activity undertaken. The paper recommends that the dissemination of agricultural information in Kampala City needs to be based on the urban farmers' enterprise groups and their information needs.