Uplifting the plight of Smallholder Farmers in Uganda: The Interplay between Information Seeking Behaviour and Information Literacy

Abstract

The study aimed at exploring the linkage between information seeking behaviourand information literacy of smallholder farmers in Uganda. Anchored on thePersonal Construct Theory and the Situated Learning Theory, two variables, thatis information seeking behaviour and tool adoption were used to explaininformation literacy. Data was collected from 225 smallholder farmers locatedin central Uganda at a single point in time using a structured questionnaire. Toassess the different hypotheses, we run a structural equation model using SPSS.Results showed that the behaviour of smallholder farmers while seekinginformation influences its use. The study established that information seekingbehaviour and Tool adoption were not related. Yet still it was established thattool adoption significantly impacted on usage of information. Lastly themediating effect of tool adoption in the relationship between information seekingbehaviour and information literacy was non-significant. These findings havepractical implications for Policy makers and Extension workers on how toimprove information literacy but also advance information literacy theoreticalexplanations by incorporating two theories. Key Words: Information Literacy, Information seeking behaviour, tool adoption, smallholder farmers