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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.

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