Mainstreaming agriculture extension workers into the ICT age through the Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture (OpAPA)
2006
Salac, R.L.S.
Using content analysis and a self-administered questionnaire, the study was undertaken to determine the dominant agricultural and environmental information in the OpAPA's Pinoy Farmers' Internet web portal. Likewise, the study determined the information needs of agriculture extension workers (AEWs) and their perception of the web portal 'Web presence' of each website was also studied. Majority of the respondents were female, 51 to 60 years old, married, college graduates, and has been an AEW for 11 to 30 years. AEWs preferred information on crop production, pest and disease management, soil and nutrient management, farm mechanization and crop varieties. For environmental, the top three topics preferred were nutrient cycling, water resource conservation, and water quality. Respondents preferred the information to be in English or in their native language and be presented as extension/training materials. AEWs found the website appropriate, readable, attractive and recommendable. Content analysis showed that websites do not fully matched the needs of the AEWs. The dominant topics were livestock, crop production and crop varieties. For the environmental topics, human and ecosystem health was dominant. Most of these topics were written in straightforward manner. The overall analysis of the websites showed the need to improve discussion on agriculture and add topics about environmental concerns. More extension materials should be uploaded and ICT policies on infrastructure, usage, and adoption, should be developed. Further studies on the websites' inactivity plus a content analysis of the new OpAPA website are suggested.
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