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You searched Library Catalogue - Title: Man who knew
Call Number (WOU) SP CEMBA 2018 63
Author Tiew, Song In
Title A study on the effectiveness of ICT application and hardware towards independent palm oil smallholder planters in Selangor, Malaysia. / Tiew Song In.
Abstract Adoption of ICT is believed to be able to enhance productivity in the world‟s agricultural sector. However, in Malaysia the level of adaption to ICT practice in the agriculture sector is still at low level, the purpose of this study was to assess the factors that influence the decision of ICT application among the independent palm oil smallholder planters in Selangor. The study was guided by three basic research questions which include the types of demographic and other factors that affect the ICT application, and the barriers that prohibit independent smallholders using ICT. Davis‟ TAM and Roger‟s DOI theory are used as the theoretical framework. The quantitative approach was employed in the study. The data was collected from 100 selected independent smallholders by using a convenience random sampling method. Both face-to-face and telephone interviews and surveys were conducted using specially the designed open-ended questionnaires. IBM SPSS software was used for the quantitative data coding and analysis. The findings of the study showed that the education level serves as the main factor of the effectiveness of ICT application, followed by knowledge awareness, government support and financial resources respectively. The majority of the respondents agreed that mobile can be a useful source of agricultural and palm oil information that they can utilize it to access the weather forecast and to spread compost on their yields. Barriers related to literacy, language, lack of basic ICT skills have been found as obstacles in adapting to ICT technologies. They anxiously feel that if there is something that goes wrong with the ICT tools, they will not know how to fix it. Meanwhile, the respondents preferred to have support from the government or a private authority to enable them to have greater access to more updated ICT technology to improve their palm oil output. However, the factor of financial resources was not to be important for the decision to adapt the ICT. Respondents thought that ICT is not generally needed by them since they had already practised with the conventional method. Their significant concern was the return on investment in the ICT. If they had additional income, they might consider investing in ICT. Recommendations were made drawn from the findings of government and the private authorities to provide an organized approach to improve the telecommunication networks in the rural areas to enable smallholders access to ICT. Also, an informal education and training that focused on farmers who are lacking in education and experience should be implemented. In addition, by upgrading independent smallholder skills or on the job training allows farmers exposure to the ICT learning environment. Courses related to the introduction and function of the recommended technologies was suggested to create awareness towards the ICT benefits among smallholders. Most importantly was the effort to encourage palm oil independent smallholders on the fundamental changes in attitude towards the ICT application in their own agricultural farming.
Notes Final project report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Business Administration (CeMBA).
Publisher/Year Penang : School of Business and Administration, Wawasan Open University, 2018.
Subject Oil palm -- Malaysia.

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