Adoption of ICT-Based Information Sources and Market Participation among Smallholder Livestock Farmers in South Africa

The study explored the contribution of information and communication technology (ICT)-based information sources to market participation among smallholder livestock farmers. Use of ICTs is considered paramount for providing smallholder farmers with required market information, and also to reduce market asymmetries. A double hurdle regression was utilized to analyze data collected from 150 smallholder livestock farmers in the study area. The results show that while use of ICT-based market information sources significantly influenced market participation, the effect of using ICT-based information sources on the intensity of market participation was not significant. Other variables shown to influence both market participation and the intensity of market participation were age, additional income and membership of farmer cooperatives. This suggests the need to consider other associated factors in the application and design of interventions that utilize ICT-based information sources to achieve market engagement among smallholders.

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Adoption of ICT-based Information Sources and Market Participation among Smallholder Livestock Farmers in South Africa

10.20944/preprints201912.0225.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher Ugochukwu Nwafor ◽

Abiodun, A. Ogundeji ◽

Carlu van der Westhuizen

Keyword(s):

Information Sources ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Significant Other ◽

Market Information ◽

Market Participation ◽

Farmer Cooperatives ◽

Livestock Farmers ◽

Additional Income ◽

Hurdle Regression ◽

Analyze Data

The study explored the contribution of ICT-based information sources to market participation among smallholder livestock farmers. Use of ICTs is considered paramount for providing smallholder farmers with required market information, in order to reduce market asymmetries. A Double Hurdle regression was utilized to analyze data collected from 150 smallholder livestock farmers in the study area. The results show that while use of ICT-based market information sources significantly influenced market participation, the effect of using ICT-based information sources on intensity of market participation was not significant. Other variables shown to influence both market participation and the intensity of market participation were age, additional income and membership of farmer cooperatives. This suggests the need to also consider other associated factors in the application of interventions which utilize ICT-based information sources in achieving planned market interventions.

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Rural Smallholder Farmers' Awareness and Use of ICT-Based Market Information Sources in South Africa

10.20944/preprints202005.0159.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher Nwafor ◽

Carlu van der Westhuizen ◽

Abiodun Ogundeji

Keyword(s):

Information Search ◽

Information Sources ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Herd Size ◽

Base Stations ◽

Market Information ◽

Market Interaction ◽

Livestock Farmers ◽

Using Data

The utility of ICTs for providing market information to rural smallholder farmers is growing rapidly, and access to reliable information and sources is considered crucial for beneficial market interaction. This study explored critical factors contributing to usage of electronic sources for market information search among rural smallholder livestock farmers. Using data collected from 129 respondents through a non-random sampling technique; descriptive and regression analysis was applied to identify key factors responsible for their awareness and use of ICT-based market information sources. Level of education was found to be a driver of awareness of ICT-based sources, and use of these sources was influenced by farmer-specific characteristics such as household size, education, income, membership of cooperatives and herd-size. The key ICT tools used was radio and mobile phones, widely available in the study area. Identified constraints to use of these ICTs include cost and patchy network signals in some areas. Policy interventions to reduce cost of mobile phone services and expansion of base stations; including practical recommendations for improved programming in radio and television offerings, are considered indispensable for greater uptake of e-information sources among smallholder livestock farmers.

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Market Participation Variables in Commercializing South African Smallholder Farmers

10.20944/preprints202003.0171.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher Nwafor

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Research Policy ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Herd Size ◽

Primary Data ◽

Future Research ◽

Market Participation ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

The Social ◽

Additional Income

The study examined key socio-economic characteristics of smallholder farmers identified for their contribution to market participation. These variables include gender, age, marital status, level of education, household size, additional income, membership of cooperative, herd size and use of ICTs. Using a structured questionnaire, primary data was collected from a total of 129 respondents which was analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, and presented using cross-tabulations, percentages and count data. The result indicates that age, additional income, cooperative membership and use of ICTs were important variables which contributed to market participation among respondents. The study also made applicable recommendations as the findings may have relevance for future research, policy and practice for commercializing smallholder farmers.

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Smallholder farmers' market participation and mobile phone‐based market information services in Lilongwe, Malawi

The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries ◽

10.1002/isd2.12097 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 85 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Thokozani Chikuni ◽

Fredy T.M. Kilima

Keyword(s):

Mobile Phone ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Information Services ◽

Market Information ◽

Market Participation ◽

Farmers Market

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Determinants of Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Agriculture: The Case of Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange in Bungoma County, Kenya

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v9n3p128 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 128

Author(s):

Amos W. Wawire ◽

Sabina M. Wangia ◽

Julius J. Okello

Keyword(s):

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Commodity Prices ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Market Information ◽

Agricultural Commodity ◽

Commodity Exchange ◽

Multi Stage ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Ict Tools

Access to markets by Smallholder farmers has conventionally been constrained by lack of market information. Efforts to strengthen access of farmers to markets has triggered the mushrooming of several projects that embrace ICT tools in promoting access to competitive market information. Nevertheless, most farmers still lack access to accurate market information, such as existing commodity prices. This study examines the determinants of the use of ICT tools among smallholder farmers for agricultural transactions. The study uses Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange (KACE), one of the ICT-based marketing platform, as the case study. The objectives of the research are to determine the factors that influence access to agricultural information, and establishing factors that determine the intensity of use of ICT tools in accessing agricultural information. Survey was conducted among 136 smallholder farmers in Bungoma County. Both purposive, and multi-stage sampling were used to obtain the sample for this research. The study finds that several farmer characteristics, farm and capital endowment factors affect the use of ICT tools, particularly mobile phones. Gender, age, literacy level, affordability, perceived importance, mobile ownership and group membership were found to be significant in influencing the decision to use KACE ICT tools and the intensity of use of these tools for agricultural transaction activities. The study further recommends for policies that support the expansion of ICT projects, training on their applications and sensitization on the use of these platforms. The study suggests for policies to address gender disparities on access and use of ICT tools for agricultural transaction.

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An Integrated Conceptual Framework for ICT-based Market Information Source Adoption among Smallholder Farmers

10.20944/preprints202003.0163.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher Nwafor

Keyword(s):

Information Needs ◽

Information Sources ◽

Survey Methodology ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Information Source ◽

Farming System ◽

Market Information ◽

Relevant Market ◽

Production Technologies ◽

African Agriculture

The importance of ICTs for dissemination of information to farmers has been verified by extension practitioners, information and communication scholars, policy makers and development agencies. Information related to new seed varieties, production technologies, livestock breeds, vaccines, including weed and pest control, as well as relevant market information is constantly required by smallholder farmers. The identification of specific attributes among smallholder farmers which contributes to their adoption of a proposed ICT-based information source provides an important tool for developing interventions which address the information needs of farmers. Using a literature survey methodology, pertinent studies related to adoption of ICTs, farmers’ information source usage and relevant frameworks were identified, including applicable theories and models in technology adoption and information behaviour. In the proposed framework, the socio-economic characteristics of smallholder farmers were posited as key variables influencing smallholder farmers, within a farming system, to adopt ICT-based information sources. The framework contributes to discern the prospects of adopting ICT-based information sources by individual farmers within a farming system, and may also envisage other related welfare outcomes and market participation pathways among smallholder farmers. The review also addresses the paucity of conceptual discourse, while contributing to a growing pool of research on ICT in African agriculture.

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