Abstract

This study explores how farmer’s self-efficacy influences their performance to use the farming management information system, FMIS. Six instruments were developed to evaluate computer ability, self-efficacy, performance, acceptance and attitude of 23 farmers who were enrolled in a two-day training workshop on FMIS. The results of this study have shown the training program improved farmer’s self-efficacy in the FMIS, and perceived usefulness could increase participants’ usage motivation of the FMIS in the future. The results suggested farmer’s efficacy has no significant impact on their choices over tasks with different levels of difficulties, and performance of using FMIS. This could be attributed to the planning and limited duration of the training. This study contributes to the field of research by its genuine and systematic implementation of farming information system training. Several suggestions including the involvement of subject-matter experts, experience sharing activities as well as peer modeling strategies were proved to be effective to facilitate farmer’s self-efficacy and can be served as references for future practices and studies.

Key words: Farmer, self-efficacy, training, farming management information system (FMIS).