Abstract

The purpose of this research is to reveal the determinants of information seeking behavior of the Abergelle woreda smallholder farmers. In this information era, smallholder farmers’ information seeking behavior shows difference due to many reasons: change with their geographical location, economic, demographic, psychological and institutional factors. Till now, to the best of the author’s knowledge, no study has been done on the topic in the study area, therefore, identifying the research on determinants of information seeking behaviour underline its importance. From the 19 rural kebeles of the wereda, 5 were randomly selected. The sample size was specified based on simplified Yamane (1967) formula and 152 household head were selected by using simple random sampling technique proportion to their population size from the randomly selected five sampled kebeles. The primary data were collected through household survey and secondary data were collected by reviewing published and unpublished materials. The level of respondents information seeking behavior of farmers were analyzed by using mean and standard deviation and the determinants of information seeking behavior identified by ordered logit regression model. Information seeking behavior of farmers’ was determined positively and significant by radio, mobile, extension contact, participating in any training, social participation, distance from the nearest market and farmers’ perception. In conclusion, farmers’ information seeking behavior was determined by: ICT ownership, extension contact, participating in training, social participation and perception. The study recommended that, to create awareness on the importance of information in enhancing rural livelihood, dissemination of information through trusted channels information sources is highly needed,  strengthening the existing agricultural training offering practices and extending the training on how to seek information on modern information source further needed and strengthening extension contact through individual extension contact using home and farm visit should supported by modern ICTs.

Key words: Determinants, information seeking behavior, ordered ordinal logistic regression logit, smallholder farmers, Tigray, Ethiopia.