Information Needs of Women Subsistence Farmers in a Village in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

This article reports on findings of a study that was conducted to establish the information needs of women subsistence or smallholder farmers and the various information sources they consulted to resolve their information needs. The study was qualitative, and a grounded theory design was used. Focus group interviews and observation were used to collect data from 14 women crop farmers and three women livestock keepers. The farmer-to-farmer extension (FFE) model was adopted to understand the information-seeking behaviours of women farmers and how they can be improved, if need be. The findings revealed that while the women crop farmers needed help with seeds, soil treatment and the protection of crops from pests and stray animals, they needed more information on drought preparedness and management, and, on how to transform from subsistence to commercial farming. Women livestock keepers needed information on livestock feeds, the treatment of various ailments, and disaster preparedness and management. In addition, they needed the reintegration of the extension officer. It also transpired that local libraries were not responding to the information needs of farmers. The main source of information was oral communication. The use of radio, television, cell phones and extension officers was limited. This study echoes other studies which propose it is important that libraries, non-government organisations (NGOs) and extension officers respond to the information needs of smallholder farmers, especially women.