IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ags/qjiage/195738.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Determinants of Awareness and Use ICT-based Market Information Services in Developing-Country Agriculture: The Case of Smallholder Farmers in Kenya

Author

Listed:
  • Okello, Julius J.
  • Kirui, Oliver K.
  • Gitonga, Zachary M.
  • Njiraini, Georgina W.
  • Nzuma, Jonathan M.

Abstract

Access by smallholder farmers to markets has traditionally been constrained by lack of market information. Yet progress in smallholder agriculture is inconceivable without greater market participation. The desire to strengthen farmer access to market has thus resulted in the emergence of many agricultural projects that use Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in developing countries over the last decade. These technologies focus on providing market information services (MIS) to farmers. This study uses regression techniques and data collected from 379 smallholder farmers in Kenya to examine the conditioners of awareness and use of ICT-based MIS. The study finds that transaction costs, the characteristics of the area in which ICT-based projects are implemented and farmer endowments with human and financial capital play an important role in smallholder farmers’ awareness, use and/or extent of use of ICT-based MIS projects. It concludes that awareness and the use of ICT-based MIS is driven by farmer, farm and location-specific characteristics as well as various capital endowment factors. The study discusses the implications of these findings for policy and practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Okello, Julius J. & Kirui, Oliver K. & Gitonga, Zachary M. & Njiraini, Georgina W. & Nzuma, Jonathan M., 2014. "Determinants of Awareness and Use ICT-based Market Information Services in Developing-Country Agriculture: The Case of Smallholder Farmers in Kenya," Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, Humboldt-Universitaat zu Berlin, vol. 53(3), pages 1-20, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:qjiage:195738
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.195738
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/195738/files/4_Okello.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22004/ag.econ.195738?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Colin Poulton & Andrew Dorward & Jonathan Kydd, 1998. "The revival of smallholder cash crops in Africa: public and private roles in the provision of finance," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 10(1), pages 85-103.
    2. Marcel Fafchamps & Ruth Vargas Hill, 2005. "Selling at the Farmgate or Traveling to Market," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 87(3), pages 717-734.
    3. Claude Menard & Mary M. Shirley (ed.), 2005. "Handbook of New Institutional Economics," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-0-387-25092-2, December.
    4. Barrett, Christopher B., 2008. "Smallholder market participation: Concepts and evidence from eastern and southern Africa," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 299-317, August.
    5. Marc F. Bellemare & Christopher B. Barrett, 2006. "An Ordered Tobit Model of Market Participation: Evidence from Kenya and Ethiopia," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 88(2), pages 324-337.
    6. Muyanga, Milu & Jayne, Thom S., 2006. "Agricultural Extension in Kenya: Practice and Policy Lessons," Working Papers 202617, Egerton University, Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development.
    7. Helen Markelova & Esther Mwangi, 2010. "Collective Action for Smallholder Market Access: Evidence and Implications for Africa," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 27(5), pages 621-640, September.
    8. Claude Ménard, 2008. "A New Institutional Approach to Organization," Springer Books, in: Claude Ménard & Mary M. Shirley (ed.), Handbook of New Institutional Economics, chapter 12, pages 281-318, Springer.
    9. Markelova, Helen & Meinzen-Dick, Ruth & Hellin, Jon & Dohrn, Stephan, 2009. "Collective action for smallholder market access," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 1-7, February.
    10. Evenson, Robert E. & Mwabu, Germano, 1998. "The Effects of Agricultural Extension on Farm Yields in Kenya," Center Discussion Papers 28509, Yale University, Economic Growth Center.
    11. repec:bla:devpol:v:24:y:2006:i:3:p:243-277 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Robert E. Evenson & Germano Mwabu, 1998. "The Effects of Agricultural Extension on Farm Yields in Kenya," Working Papers 798, Economic Growth Center, Yale University.
    13. Julius J. Okello & Scott M. Swinton, 2007. "Compliance with International Food Safety Standards in Kenya's Green Bean Industry: Comparison of a Small- and a Large-scale Farm Producing for Export," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 29(2), pages 269-285.
    14. Michael Hubbard, 1997. "The ‘New Institutional Economics’ In Agricultural Development: Insights And Challenges," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(1‐3), pages 239-249, January.
    15. Christopher B. Barrett & Michael R. Carter, 2013. "The Economics of Poverty Traps and Persistent Poverty: Empirical and Policy Implications," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(7), pages 976-990, July.
    16. Steven Were Omamo, 1998. "Farm-to-market transaction costs and specialisation in small-scale agriculture: Explorations with a non-separable household model," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(2), pages 152-163.
    17. Fafchamps, Marcel & Gabre-Madhin, Eleni Z., 2006. "Agricultural markets in Benin and Malawi," African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, African Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 1(1), pages 1-28, November.
    18. Wambugu, Stella N. & Okello, Julius Juma & Nyikal, Rose Adhiambo & Bekele, Shiferaw, 2009. "Effect of Social Capital on Performance of Smallholder Producer Organizations: The Case of Groundnut Growers in Western Kenya," 2009 Conference, August 16-22, 2009, Beijing, China 51466, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    19. Kirimi, Lilian & Sitko, Nicholas & Jayne, Thom S. & Karin, Francis & Muyanga, Milu & Sheahan, Megan & Flock, James & Bor, Gilbert, 2011. "A Farm Gate-to-Consumer Value Chain Analysis of Kenya's Maize Marketing System," Working Papers 202597, Egerton University, Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development.
    20. Tollens, Eric, 2006. "Market Information Systems in Sub-Sahara Africa: Challenges and Opportunities," 2006 Annual Meeting, August 12-18, 2006, Queensland, Australia 25590, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    21. Greene, William, 2008. "Functional forms for the negative binomial model for count data," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 99(3), pages 585-590, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ojo, T.O. & Ogundeji, A.A. & Belle, J.A., 2021. "Climate change perception and impact of on-farm demonstration on intensity of adoption of adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers in South Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    2. Ojo, Temitope & Ogundeji, Abiodun A. & Belle, Johannes A. & Demont, Matty, 2021. "A Three-Stage Approach of Understanding Climate Change Perception and Adaptation Strategies Among Smallholder Farmers in South Africa," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315854, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    3. Christopher Ugochukwu Nwafor & Abiodun A. Ogundeji & Carlu van der Westhuizen, 2020. "Adoption of ICT-Based Information Sources and Market Participation among Smallholder Livestock Farmers in South Africa," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-13, February.
    4. Fuhong Zhang & Apurbo Sarkar & Hongyu Wang, 2021. "Does Internet and Information Technology Help Farmers to Maximize Profit: A Cross-Sectional Study of Apple Farmers in Shandong, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-18, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kirui, Oliver K. & Njiraini, Georgina W., 2013. "Impact of Collective Action on the smallholder agricultural commercialization and incomes: Experiences from Kenya," 2013 Fourth International Conference, September 22-25, 2013, Hammamet, Tunisia 161617, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    2. Stefano Ciliberti & Angelo Frascarelli & Gaetano Martino, 2020. "Drivers of participation in collective arrangements in the agri‐food supply chain. Evidence from Italy using a transaction costs economics perspective," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 91(3), pages 387-409, September.
    3. Julius Okello & Oliver Kirui & Georgina Njiraini & Zachary Gitonga, 2012. "Drivers of Use of Information and Communication Technologies by Farm Households: The Case of Smallholder Farmers in Kenya," Journal of Agricultural Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 4(2), pages 111-111, February.
    4. Fischer, Elisabeth & Qaim, Matin, 2012. "Linking Smallholders to Markets: Determinants and Impacts of Farmer Collective Action in Kenya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 1255-1268.
    5. Kirui, Oliver K., 2013. "Drivers of Collective Action and the Welfare Gains of such Initiatives among smallholder farmers: Experiences from Kenya," 2013 Fourth International Conference, September 22-25, 2013, Hammamet, Tunisia 161619, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    6. Jan Falkowski & Pavel Ciaian, 2016. "Factors Supporting the Development of Producer Organizations and their Impacts in the Light of Ongoing Changes in Food Supply Chains: A Literature Review," JRC Research Reports JRC101617, Joint Research Centre.
    7. Momanyi, Denis & Lagat, Prof. Job K. & Ayuya, Dr. Oscar I., 2016. "Analysis of the Marketing Behaviour of African Indigenous Leafy Vegetables among Smallholder Farmers in Nyamira County, Kenya," MPRA Paper 69202, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 27 Jan 2016.
    8. Thai Thuy Pham & Ludwig Theuvsen & Verena Otter, 2019. "Determinants of Smallholder Farmers' Marketing Channel Choice: Evidence from the Vietnamese Rice Sector," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 33(3), pages 281-300, September.
    9. Kibaara, Betty & Ariga, Joshua & Olwande, John & Jayne, Thom S., 2008. "Trends in Kenyan Agricultural Productivity: 1997-2007," Working Papers 202611, Egerton University, Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development.
    10. Biggeri, Mario & Carraro, Alessandro & Ciani, Federico & Romano, Donato, 2022. "Disentangling the impact of a multiple-component project on SDG dimensions: The case of durum wheat value chain development in Oromia (Ethiopia)," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    11. Bekele Shiferaw & Gideon Obare & Geoffrey Muricho, 2008. "Rural market imperfections and the role of institutions in collective action to improve markets for the poor," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 32(1), pages 25-38, February.
    12. Ogutu, Sylvester Ochieng & Okello, Julius Juma & Otieno, David Jakinda, 2014. "Impact of Information and Communication Technology-Based Market Information Services on Smallholder Farm Input Use and Productivity: The Case of Kenya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 311-321.
    13. Hamdiyah Alhassan & Benjamin Musah Abu & Paul Kwame Nkegbe, 2020. "Access to Credit, Farm Productivity and Market Participation in Ghana: A Conditional Mixed Process Approach," Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 14(2), pages 226-246, May.
    14. Wollni, Meike & Fischer, Elisabeth, 2012. "Commitment in Collective Marketing Relationships: Evidence from Coffee Cooperatives in Costa Rica," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126884, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    15. Wafula, Teresia Nekesah & Okello, Julius Juma & Otieno, David Jakinda, 2017. "Analysis Of The Use Of Inoculant-Based Technologies By Smallholder Farmers And Its Effect On Output Commercialization: Case Of Field Bean Farmers In Western Kenya," Dissertations and Theses 269392, University of Nairobi, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    16. Mukundi, Eric & Mathenge, Mary K. & Ngigi, Margaret, 2013. "Sweet Potato Marketing Among Smallholder Farmers: The Role of Collective Action," 2013 Fourth International Conference, September 22-25, 2013, Hammamet, Tunisia 160679, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    17. Christopher Ugochukwu Nwafor & Abiodun A. Ogundeji & Carlu van der Westhuizen, 2020. "Adoption of ICT-Based Information Sources and Market Participation among Smallholder Livestock Farmers in South Africa," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-13, February.
    18. Seng, Kimty, 2016. "The Effects of Market Participation on Farm Households’ Food Security in Cambodia: An endogenous switching approach," MPRA Paper 69669, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Diwakar KC & Tek Maraseni & Chubamenla Jamir & Ritendra Thapa Magar & Florencia Tuladhar, 2020. "Effectiveness of Gravity Goods Ropeways in market participation of smallholder farmers in uplands," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 1393-1414, June.
    20. Reyes, Byron & Donovan, Cynthia & Bernsten, Richard H. & Maredia, Mywish K., 2012. "Market participation and sale of potatoes by smallholder farmers in the central highlands of Angola: A Double Hurdle approach," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126655, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:qjiage:195738. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/iahubde.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.