Potential of Mobile Phone-Based Decision Support Systems on Selecting of Sorghum Varietal Seeds in Homa Bay County, Kenya

Decision Support Systems are critical for interactive and quick decision-making in agriculture. This baseline survey of 150 sorghum farmers in Homa Bay County, Kenya established user requirements for a mobile-based DSS for sorghum varietal seed selection. Results showed 73.3% owned basic phones while 26.7% owned smartphones. Majority (60%) made phone calls and 28.7% used SMS for agricultural information. Although 82% did not currently use mobile apps, 80.9% would adopt a sorghum varietal seed selection app. Farmers preferred Seredo (42.7%) and indigenous varieties (34.7%). Positive correlations existed between occupation and WhatsApp, Facebook, and calls usage. Education level positively correlated with WhatsApp and Facebook use. End-user involvement during system development is paramount for DSS adoption success.