Fisher Friend Mobile Application – An Innovative and Promising ICT Tool in Fisheries e-Extension
Fisher Friend Mobile Application – An Innovative and Promising ICT Tool in Fisheries e-Extension
Date
2012
Authors
Vimala, D. D.
Ravisankar, T
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Society of Fisheries Technologists (India)Cochin
Abstract
Among the new e-Extension initiatives in the
fisheries sector, the advisory services through
mobile phone occupy an important place in
disseminating information and knowledge to
fisherfolk. This study was conducted in Akkarapettai,
Samanthanpettai and Chinnangudi villages of
Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu where information
dissemination through mobile phones is
being actively practiced by M.S. Swaminathan
Research Foundation. A sample of 56 fisherfolk was
drawn using simple random sampling procedure.
Structured questionnaire was used for data collection.
The study focused on two aspects namely,
demographic characteristics of the respondents and
the type of information disseminated and its
preferences through mobile phone. The information
disseminated were: daily weather and wave height
forecast, potential fishing zones, GPS based navigation
solutions, details of Government schemes in
operation, Government subsidies, market/landing
centre information, clips of the day and audio clips
based on need assessment of the respondents. The
constraints such as small size of the mobile screen,
too many scrolls to read the full content, slow
scrolling speed, small font size and time constraints
were expressed. GPS technology integrated, waterresistant
model, voice enabled messages, flat models
instead of folding types, high capacity charge
batteries and GPS software with novel features were
preferred by the fisherfo
Description
Keywords
Fisheries, e-Extension, mobile advisory,ICT
Citation
Fishery Technology 49(2):199-203