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Abstract
Agricultural Market information provides farmers with vital data which can
improve their competitiveness, productivity and ultimately improve food and nutritional
security in a country. Various worldwide agricultural market information systems provide
a wide range of information to its users, but focuses on the delivery methods. Delivery
methods increase in importance in Asian and Sub-African countries where many
constraints exist, such as distance to market, access to mobile services and the
availability of electricity. Although Trinidad and Tobago has an abundance of energy
resources, information media and mobile networks, farmers could still be disadvantaged
in the method used to disseminate market information. In addition, receiving market
information at a frequency unsuitable to its users decreases the effectiveness of such
information. Currently, domestic crop wholesale market prices are provided daily and
monthly, via the internet and short message services (SMS), but the use among farmers
have been shown to be approximately 44%. Therefore, this study sought to identify the
media preferred by farmers and the frequency at which this information should be
delivered. A structured questionnaire allowed the study to identify the preferred
frequency and the media for the delivery of market information. The Chi-square model
was also employed to identify if any significant relationships existed between the
demographical characteristics of farmers, the media they preferred, and the frequency
of delivery. The study found that print media was most preferred among crop farmers
and information should be delivered on a daily basis. It should be noted that the media
and frequency differed according to the type of information farmers required. The
results of the study can guide policy makers in the development of a more effective
market information system.