A Mobile-based Tea Farming Information System

Current trends in information and communication technology have led to emergence of smartphones with faster wireless speeds, faster graphics, better screens, and faster processors. Tapping into this technology can lead to development of mobile information systems that promote sustainable farming through timely information access, especially in tea farming. The traditional practice in tea farming has been dissemination of information through extension officers, Farmer Field Schools, mass media or farmer’s sharing own experience. Consequently, this vital information is either accessed too late or when obsolete and/or it is sometimes completely lacking. Limited access to information has led to an information gap hence farmers practice poor planning and farming resulting to environmental degradation and reduced revenues. This paper focused on developing a tea farming information system that meets the information needs of tea farmers. The nature of the study required the researcher to adopt deductive approach so as to compare the data findings against the existing literature through logical reasoning. A case study strategy was employed to gain a rich understanding of the research perspective with the focus being the tea farmers of Mungania Tea Factory Company