Abstract:
The GEO-POTATO is a Decision‐Support Service (DSS) for farmers in
Bangladesh for an optimal control strategy of the late blight disease in potato.
Through development of a DSS based on a combination of satellite information
and models infection period late blight can be forecasted. However, the key
concern of this study was to determine the salient factors which motivate
farmers to continued use of GEO-POTATO service. A theoretical model was
proposed based on extended Expectation-Confirmation Theory (ECT) which
incorporated with service quality model. Data were collected from 105 farmers
from Sadar upazila of Munshiganj district using a structured interview schedule
during 15th March-25th March, 2019. Data were analyzed by Partial Least
Square-based Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using Smart PLS v2.0
M3. Result revealed disconfirmation and post-usage usefulness were two
antecedents of satisfaction that combined explained 65.6% of the variance of
satisfaction. Satisfaction and post-usage usefulness was used as predictor of
continuance intention, they jointly explained 50.7% of the variance of
continuance intention. Finally, this model proposed several theoretical and
practical recommendation concerning mobile enabled service and
strengthening user support service and arrange ICT skill training for
sustainability of such approaches like GEO-POTATO.
Description:
A Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of Agriculture,
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
SEMESTER: JANUARY-JUNE, 2018
