Fisher Friend Mobile Application – An Innovative and Promising ICT Tool in Fisheries e-Extension

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 fisherfolk.