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Factors Influencing the Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers towards Adoption of Digital Technologies in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Author

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  • Nasiphi Vusokazi Bontsa

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, 1 King William’s Town Road, Alice 5700, South Africa)

  • Abbyssinia Mushunje

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, 1 King William’s Town Road, Alice 5700, South Africa)

  • Saul Ngarava

    (Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584CB Utrecht, The Netherlands)

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the factors that influence the perceptions of smallholder farmers towards the adoption of digital technologies. A purposively selected sample of 250 smallholder farmers who were cross-sectionally surveyed from Port St Johns and Ingquza Hill Local Municipalities in South Africa was used in the study. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Attention, Desire, and Action (AIDA) model were used to analyse the data. The results showed that digital technologies were perceived to be expensive, cause a digital divide, and discouraged the use of Indigenous Knowledge even though they increased production. Positive perception towards digital technologies was associated with cattle rearing, with extreme negative perception for sheep and goat rearing. Educational level, employment status, monthly income, household size, being part of a cooperative (1% level), age, and source of income (10% level) were significant factors affecting smallholder farmers’ perceptions of digital technologies. In conclusion, there are economic, social justice, and traditional perceptions towards digital technologies by smallholder farmers, with socio-economic factors affecting the perceptions. The study recommends providing low-cost digital technologies that promote Indigenous Knowledge, which should target the youth and young farmers with less education in small households who are full-time farmers with moderate-to-high incomes and are part of farmer groups/organisations.

Suggested Citation

  • Nasiphi Vusokazi Bontsa & Abbyssinia Mushunje & Saul Ngarava, 2023. "Factors Influencing the Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers towards Adoption of Digital Technologies in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:8:p:1471-:d:1202227
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sarah Hackfort, 2021. "Patterns of Inequalities in Digital Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Ngarava, Saul & Mushunje, Abbyssinia & Chaminuka, Petronella, 2020. "Qualitative benefits of livestock development programmes. Evidence from the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo (KyD) Scheme in South Africa," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
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    4. Ardinesh Kambanje & Saul Ngarava & Abyssinia Mushunje & Amon Taruvinga, 2018. "Labour Dynamics in Climate and Techno Reliant Small Scale Maize Production," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 10(4), pages 262-276.
    5. Giua, Carlo & Materia, Valentina Cristiana & Camanzi, Luca, 2022. "Smart farming technologies adoption: Which factors play a role in the digital transition?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    6. Johanna Pfeiffer & Andreas Gabriel & Markus Gandorfer, 2021. "Understanding the public attitudinal acceptance of digital farming technologies: a nationwide survey in Germany," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(1), pages 107-128, February.
    7. Ardinesh Kambanje & Amon Taruvinga & Abbyssinia Mushunje & Charles Mutengwa & Saul Ngarava*, 2020. "Determinants of Food Security Status amongst Smallholder Farmers Utilizing Different Maize Varieties in OR Tambo District, South Africa," The Journal of Social Sciences Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 6(2), pages 133-139, 02-2020.
    8. Tianyu Qin & Lijun Wang & Yanxin Zhou & Liyue Guo & Gaoming Jiang & Lei Zhang, 2022. "Digital Technology-and-Services-Driven Sustainable Transformation of Agriculture: Cases of China and the EU," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, February.
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